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Summers Away
Ayla DeLuca’s life is simple. She lives in a small town in upstate New York and is somewhat bored with her life. That is until she meets Ryan Gematti. Ayla spends the last month of her Summer with Ryan’s family and friends in Virginia, something that becomes an annual tradition. Ayla quickly finds out that Ryan has a girlfriend at home, but becomes close friends with Ryan’s younger brother, Tate. Tate is dealing with relationship problems of his own, and together they try to find their way through the confusion, and sometimes torment, of teenage love. When a secret relationship begins to cause friction between them, Ayla faces the tough decision between telling the truth and protecting her friend. And when the truth sparks an event that results in a tragic death, Ayla learns that love and hate have life-long repercussions.
Summers Away is a story of self-discovery and the challenges that we face along the way, of the friendships that shape us, and the legacy our love leaves behind.
Summers Away is a story of self-discovery and the challenges that we face along the way, of the friendships that shape us, and the legacy our love leaves behind.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2014
17 people want to read
About the author
Kara DeMaio
4 booksKara DeMaio is an author and illustrator with a passion for creating stories that resonate with readers of all ages. Whether through the pages of a young adult novel or the colorful illustrations of a children’s book, Kara's work aims to spark connection, nurture kindness, foster empathy, and inspire hope.
With a background in both writing and illustration (as well as marketing and graphic design), Kara brings a unique, creative approach to her storytelling. Her work is driven by a deep belief in the power of books to help readers feel less alone, raise awareness, and encourage personal growth. Her YA fiction explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and resilience, while her children's books focus on promoting kindness, embracing differences, and nurturing emotional growth.
Kara's writing journey began over a decade ago, and since then, she has built a portfolio that includes both heartwarming children's books like LuLu Learns: It's Okay To Be Different, LuLu Learns: Being A Big Sister Is Important, and LuLu Learns: Kindergarten Isn’t Scary, and the poignant Summers Away YA novels that capture the complexity of navigating relationships, trauma and grief while growing up. She’s also illustrated a number of children’s books, including My Grandma Is A Red Bird But Today She’s Feeling Blue, which won a Mom’s Choice Award honoring excellence in family-friendly media.
When she's not writing or illustrating, Kara can be found sipping tea, tending to her garden, or knitting by the window. She’s passionate about growing healing plants and creating pollinator gardens for bees and butterflies. Her quiet evenings are often spent working on her latest knitting project.
Kara is currently working on a new children's wellness series, an addition to the Summers Away series, and two new YA novels. She invites readers to join her on this creative journey, where every story is meant to make the world feel just a little bit smaller and a lot more connected.
For more information, visit www.LifeTranscribed.com.
With a background in both writing and illustration (as well as marketing and graphic design), Kara brings a unique, creative approach to her storytelling. Her work is driven by a deep belief in the power of books to help readers feel less alone, raise awareness, and encourage personal growth. Her YA fiction explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and resilience, while her children's books focus on promoting kindness, embracing differences, and nurturing emotional growth.
Kara's writing journey began over a decade ago, and since then, she has built a portfolio that includes both heartwarming children's books like LuLu Learns: It's Okay To Be Different, LuLu Learns: Being A Big Sister Is Important, and LuLu Learns: Kindergarten Isn’t Scary, and the poignant Summers Away YA novels that capture the complexity of navigating relationships, trauma and grief while growing up. She’s also illustrated a number of children’s books, including My Grandma Is A Red Bird But Today She’s Feeling Blue, which won a Mom’s Choice Award honoring excellence in family-friendly media.
When she's not writing or illustrating, Kara can be found sipping tea, tending to her garden, or knitting by the window. She’s passionate about growing healing plants and creating pollinator gardens for bees and butterflies. Her quiet evenings are often spent working on her latest knitting project.
Kara is currently working on a new children's wellness series, an addition to the Summers Away series, and two new YA novels. She invites readers to join her on this creative journey, where every story is meant to make the world feel just a little bit smaller and a lot more connected.
For more information, visit www.LifeTranscribed.com.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 29, 2018
love the story!! can't wait for Kara's next book !!
September 20, 2015
This is a heartwrenchingly beautiful story about love and loss and relationships. I don't usually read realistic YA fiction because the unnecessary drama and angst depress me, but there was none of that here. It is so well written that I never questioned the characters' motivations; they're not just 3 dimensional, they are fully realized people. The story is engaging with a good amount of suspense. The pacing is a little slow, but there's never a dull moment. And my favorite character is Tate because he's so welcoming, always ready with a hug, so full of life and love and sunshine. Be ready to cry, a lot near the end; for those who need warnings, a main character does die, but not the protagonist. And be ready to love these characters as much as your own best friends. :)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews