Seasons In fairy tales, the princess meets her prince. He is her first, last and only love. But life isn’t a fairy tale, and not everyone gets it right the first time. Often, we love many, each teaching us a lesson. I had four great loves of my life that came and went like the seasons. Not all of my loves turned out to be princes. Some were nothing but a villain in shiny armor. Will I find my true prince charming? Or am I doomed to face the coldness of winter alone? My name is Brynn Carsten, and these are the seasons of my life…
I question myself at this point as to where to even start this review. This book has been stacked up in my TBR for too long; being that it is from a new author, I will admit that I didn't place huge importance on it. Lesson 1 - never underestimate new authors. Lesson 2 - Listen to friends/bloggers when they rave about a book. If I had took notice to either of these 2 lessons I would have read this book as soon as it landed on my Kindle.
This is Brynn Carsten's journey through the highs and lows of love. Told through the seasons of her life, the author has used a quote by Yoko Ono to pre-face the book and I have to say it gives you a real insight into the direction in which this book will take.
"Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance"
We first meet Brynn in her junior year of high school. 17, independent and full of optimism in what life will hold for her. We learn early on that she is from a divorced home; her father having run of with his assistant. This certainly makes a young Brynn cynical about love, happier avoiding it then risking being hurt by it and it certainly effects many decisions she makes throughout her Seasons.
Spring really is the start of her blossoming femininity. We move through to Summer and autumn and this brings more highs and dreadful lows. After every season she learns from her mistakes and attempts to flourish in her successes, whether that be in her love life or not as the case may be. Finally reaching Winter and having grown in the lessons her life have taught her, will she finally find what she is looking for?
This book is such a amazing and emotional journey. Brynn is so intent on not putting her heart out there at the beginning of this book, but when she does she goes full throttle. She manages to have 4 great loves in her life, all of them teaching her something about love and about herself. Will those lessons bring her a knight in shining armour - you will wish that for that all the way through.
I won't mention the men she meets along the way as that really would spoil it for you. I will say that each and everyone are unique and offer her different experiences along the way. Some you will like, some you will love and you may even feel hate at times. Amongst all of this she is surrounded by important people that hold her hand through even the most difficult of times. Mel her childhood friend is wild and pushes Brynn out of her comfort zone, Trevor the gay best friend is her safe place and her mother Cathy is her everything.
This book is why I LOVE self-publishing. Katrina Alba is a very talented writer, the story she has created is real life. She hasn't had to slush it up, she has stayed true to herself. She has created a very poignant book and in retrospect has been very brave with the choices she chose when decided which path Brynn would travel. I can only praise her for that. This is a book that will stay with you for many reasons, most notably because of the teary ending but also because you will relate to the journey in love that Brynn goes through.
This for me is a 5 crown review but I need to be honest and I like to think constructive. There were a few occasions when it swapped from past to present tense, this needed to be a little more fine tuned in my opinion. I would have also liked to see more of Winter. It felt a little rushed and I just think she could have added more meat to it, especially given the detail we got in the previous seasons. Do you know what though, this is such a breath-taking book that I could only bring myself to deduct .25, and believe me when I say I am very stingy with my crowns. That really is a credit to the wonderful work Katrina has shared with us.
If you are looking for a book that will evoke a whole range of emotions, that takes a less conventional path, that is unique and beautifully written - you NEED to read this book NOW!
I would happily say that this book deserves 10 stars!!
I went on an emotional roller coaster reading this, I cried, laughed out loud, felt sick and cried some more. I read it in 2 sittings and I fell in love with the main character Brynn straight away.
I got the message that no matter what you can fall in love with different people and also have your happy ever after.
I congratulate Katrina for a wonderful debut novel and I very much look forward to reading more of her work
I got this as an ARC and I'm always honest with my reviews. I started off not totally digging the beginning. I think it's because I'm over highschool romances. Thankfully this story evolved into more. But it was the ending that got me. Made me feel like I swallowed an orange. For a debut novel this was fantastic. A few spelling/grammar issues but I've come to expect that in every book now. But it was edited better than many debut novels so that alone impressed me.
My only thing with Brynn (love the name BTW) was that it was hard to get real gripping emotion from her. Until the ending.
This book does not have Chapters. It has Seasons. So it takes a bit longer to get through because you are reading an entire season.
The ending felt a bit rushed as it skipped to 10 years later and then reversed to 7 years before. I'd rather it be kept simpler. Maybe I'm just picky like that.
In a nutshell, this book didn't suck. It got 4 stars and I don't give out my stars lightly. I also took into consideration that this is a debut novel. Katrina, you done good babe. It takes a strong person to put their or any story to paper and have people literally judge it.
First, let me start by saying I have read a lot of books and there has only been one other book that made me feel the way this book did. This amazing debut by Katrina Alba will blow you out of the water. I laughed out loud a lot and then I cried. I felt such an amazing connection to the main character in this story and felt I understood her.
The message I received, when I finally finished this book in just 2 sittings because I couldn't stop reading, was so powerful and emotional and reached a part of my soul that needed to be touched. Katrina Alba's writing style is so smooth and elegant. It flowed effortlessly and never felt forced.
Please take the time to read this amazing story when it releases and be ready for an amazing story of life, love and lessons learned. Thank you for allowing me to read this before it's release, and I look forward to more from you Katrina Alba. <3
The title of this book is perfection! It truly is about the seasons in ones life... Of course the loves and losses and pains and beautiful memories... But truly it is about the life of a girl, then a young adult, then a woman... And about all that is a part of her life. The good, the sad, the wow, and the bad and heart wrenching downs life has for her....
This book starts off with Brynn in high school... And it chronicles all the wonderful intensity of first love. Then off to college... Off to the real world... Off to her career...
I smiled, I felt butterflies, I got mad, I was scared... And omg.. I did the ugly heaving snotty cry....
I thought it was going to be a sappy YA coming of age story... It is sooooooooooo much more than that.... Well played Katrina Alba... Well played...
I loved this story! I loved how it took you through the different 'man phases' or in this case 'seasons' of Brynn's life. I LOVE Charlie!! He was sweet and captured a part of me right from the start. This story will take you on an emotional roller coaster, gripping a tissue one minute, and gasping the next. A huge congratulations to Katrina on a remarkable debut novel. I cannot wait to see what comes next from her.
**I was gifted a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review**
4.5-5 stars. This book offers a buffet of feelings about love and is realistic about a woman's journey through life. Brynn cycles through seasons of falling in love and not all of them are perfect. She doesn't have a father figure and her childhood best guy friend died from leukemia so Brynn struggles with trust and letting males in for fear of loss. And because it's obvious in the blurb that she meets 4 different guys at different periods in her life, it's no surprise that each relationship has an endpoint. My heart broke with her when Spring ended, that was my favorite season, I kept hoping that wasn't truly the end of them together. If anything, Brynn is a survivor and she has goals because she is smart and independent. Each season is a different type of love with embedded lessons that she learns from. She has experienced all the highs and lows that by the time Winter comes around, Brynn is more mature and cautious. Because she has endured some hardships that left lingering scars, Brynn isn't living her life in the moment or enjoying the quality of life that she should. Winter is not so much about the romance as it is about Brynn's rebirth and moving forward with the right kind of support and how she is much more comfortable in her own skin. The ending was a bit of a surprise, but there's another valuable lesson in there that sends a good message home.
I was finally able to sit down and finish this book. I'm surprised I can see through the tears as I write this review. Katrina, thank you so much for this gift and honoring me with the chance to read it.
I can't spoil this book AT ALL! You must one click.......
I have never read a story written the way it was. This story is about a girl who goes through life, love, and loss, one season at a time. She loves and loses love like we all do, but learns and moves on like some of us don't. There's the good, the bad, and the truly ugly all rolled into one wonderful masterpiece. I thought this was another love story, but it's more than that. It's real. It's raw. And when you get to the end, you are left truly heartbroken but proud to of known Brynn.
I'm left wishing my dad was as smart as her. Obviously not everyone knows what I'm talking about. This hit home for me and if you're ready to read something new and refreshing and just straight up GOOD, then you'll get to know what I'm talking about.
I'm going to bed with a new perspective thanks to Katrina.
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!! SERIOUSLY, YOU'RE MISSING OUT IF YOU HAVEN'T!!!!
How does one write a anovel so full of both love and pain? How does one write a story with a happy ending, but one that brings tears? Katrina Alba has successfully found the way. In her debut novel no less!
I like that the title lets the reader know this is not going to be just a coming of age story and that the sections are labeled as Seasons and not chapters.
We meet Brynn and learn a little of her family history at the beginning. Pay attention because as we learn more in each season, it all builds together to show the larger picture. We also see that life is cyclical and things do come around again.
Besides Brynn, her mother and the men in her life we meet some very appealing great friends. I could easily see a book featuring Mel and the twins, or Trevor and Adam.
I was given an advance copy of this book as part of a blog tour. The opinions are my own.
If anyone were to ask me right now what book should they read I would definitely recommend this one! I can't even put into words how this book affected me. Katrina takes you on a journey of love and heartbreak. You will fall in love with the main character Brynn and truly feel all of the emotions she goes thru with each relationship. At times I felt I was not ready for another relationship even when Brynn was!
I cannot begin to describe how much I enjoyed this book by Katrina Alba. Her style is easy to read and her characters are very believable and enjoyable. Will she find her prince? Well, you have to read the book like I did to find out. I will most likely read everything by this author. I love her style and story.
* I received a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review. *
This was author Katrina Alba's debut novel and she knocked it out of the park. She took us on an emotional roller coaster, that had you gripping a tissue one minute, yelling at the characters the next and at the same time gasping with disbelief as the "seasons" in Brynn's life took yet another turn. The writing in this book flowed smoothly and the author included so many beautiful descriptions, details and knowledge of the area that the reader felt like they were a part of the book. Katrina's writing is heart felt and emotional and makes the reader succumb to the emotions in the book with little to no problem. You feel all of the emotions as Brynn falls in love, you can feel the hurt that she goes through, and you can mentally find the courage to move on only to face the next challenge just at Brynn does throughout the book. There is no way to predict what she was going to throw at the reader next.
I found myself relating to Brynn and was lost in her world, or her seasons. The ending was a happy ending, but yet the reader feels so emotional, that you almost wonder if you are happy, sad or elated that Brynn found her perfect season. There are so many wonderful characters throughout the story, including Adam and Trevor (my favorites) that you feel the loss of the friendship that you created with them as you were reading the book. You think about the characters and the story long after you have finished reading it.
This was an amazing first book and I cannot wait to see what comes next from her. I know that anything she writes will automatically be added to my TBR list! Make sure that you check this book out and leave yourself plenty of time to read it, because once you start, you won't want to stop! It is an amazing read! Enjoy ~
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. ***
Seasons is the tale of Brynn's life. It is divided into four parts - Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Each season is a new love, a new lesson, and a new perspective.
Part one is the tale of Brynn's first love. It is sweet and I felt the chemistry between the two. I felt like I was back in high school learning what I thought love was.
The next few seasons go through two more men that have a profound impact on Brynn's life. The third was is a little hard to read. It may cause triggers for some, but it was very tactfully written. I felt for Brynn when she was so down and broken.
The last part is about Brynn learning who her one true love actually is.
I loved this story. I didn't have too many complaints with the exception of the bomb dropped at 97%. By that time you are winding down from a book and it could have been ended without it. Or it should have been written in sooner and more developed. Other than that I enjoyed.
I'm not even sure how to put into words the feelings that rushed through me while reading this book - one word BREATHTAKING!!!! Katrina really nailed all the emotions experienced in each one of the relationships and situations the main character experienced and along the way I began looking back on my past relationships and being able to reflect how each was a different season of my life.
Not only was this book remarkable in every way shape and form, but it was HOT!!! So steamy in some parts that you needed to just set the book down and take care of business before you could continue onward (I'm still dreaming about some of the hunks). The heart-stirring moments moved me into tears, knowing the feelings the main character was feeling or from the heart ache that I could never imagine experiencing. I experienced every emotion reading this book and it is now on my top 10 favorite books ever!!
Kat - you rocked this book and I can't wait for your next one to come out!!!!
Seasons was a touching and inspirational story that followed Brynn through the many seasons of her own life. Brynn experienced many ups and downs, but in the end, she truly LIVED her life. It was refreshing to follow a character through more than just one romance, and that makes Seasons very unique!
The writing in this book flowed nicely and included many beautiful descriptions and inspirational tidbits as well. It flows across genres, as it starts out as a young adult story, but it doesn't stop there. Seasons follows Brynn through new adulthood and beyond into her adult life.
I really enjoyed experiencing Brynn's journey in Seasons. It truly is a sweet and inspirational book with a little something for everyone!
**A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review**
The title of this book is perfection! It truly is about the seasons in ones life... Of course the loves and losses and pains and beautiful memories... But truly it is about the life of a girl, then a young adult, then a woman... And about all that is a part of her life. The good, the sad, the wow, and the bad and heart wrenching downs life has for her....
This book starts off with Brynn in high school... And it chronicles all the wonderful intensity of first love. Then off to college... Off to the real world... Off to her career...
I smiled, I felt butterflies, I got mad, I was scared... And omg.. I did the ugly heaving snotty cry....
I thought it was going to be a sappy YA coming of age story... It is sooooooooooo much more than that.... Well played Katrina Alba... Well played...
OMG!! If you read any book this year this is the book to read!!! Each page you think you know what is to come and BAM! you turn the page to nothing that you could expect! Love this story and the characters in it are those in which every one can relate to on all levels. Love Katrina Alba and I am now a fan for life!!!
This book is a 5 star plus.... heart warming,gut wrenching. This book was life and love at it's best and it's worst! Seasons go Seasons change,we change and we go like Seasons! Please read it's a great read!!!
Grab your tissues. Wow what a powerful emotional book. Such a great read. This is the first book of Katrina's that I have read but I will definitely be looking for another.