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Phantom Summer
Seventeen-year-old Taylor Gray moves to Sterling Island to get over her dead boyfriend. Mom’s cool with letting her crash on the couch, but Taylor needs to get a job before the lights are cut off again.
When the tall, dark and crazy Raine Tsunami offers her a position at his thriving ghost tour business, she figures it’s an easy way to make some cash. Taylor isn’t afraid of ghosts--that crap is as fake as her mom’s boob job. She loves their adventures on the historic island, especially the secret places he shows her when the crowds go home. So what if all the ghost stories are just legends?
When Taylor comes face to face with a ghost and Raine crosses the line between friend and boyfriend--Taylor’s new life collides with her haunted past. If murdered people end up as ghosts, then that someone she was trying to forget is probably watching her.
When the tall, dark and crazy Raine Tsunami offers her a position at his thriving ghost tour business, she figures it’s an easy way to make some cash. Taylor isn’t afraid of ghosts--that crap is as fake as her mom’s boob job. She loves their adventures on the historic island, especially the secret places he shows her when the crowds go home. So what if all the ghost stories are just legends?
When Taylor comes face to face with a ghost and Raine crosses the line between friend and boyfriend--Taylor’s new life collides with her haunted past. If murdered people end up as ghosts, then that someone she was trying to forget is probably watching her.
Unknown Binding
First published March 15, 2012
28 people are currently reading
1364 people want to read
About the author
Amy Sparling
102 books806 followersAmy Sparling is the USA Today Bestselling author of books with swoony first loves and heartwarming endings. She lives on the coast of Texas with her family, her spoiled rotten pets, and a huge pile of books.
By day, she works as a librarian, and by night you can find her curled up with a book–either one she’s reading or one she’s writing.
Amy Sparling is the pen name of author Cheyanne Young, but she’ll answer to either name!
By day, she works as a librarian, and by night you can find her curled up with a book–either one she’s reading or one she’s writing.
Amy Sparling is the pen name of author Cheyanne Young, but she’ll answer to either name!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 23, 2019
2.5 rounded up.
I'm not a big fan of ghost centered books. They just don't appeal to me. While this one was interesting to read it was rather bland.
Taylor leaves school and her father to live with her mother, who makes poor life choices, to Sterling Island. Which is extremely haunted. Seriously. Turn the corner and someone died there, thus, haunted.
The reason for her sudden change is because her best friend died and she feels guilty for his death. She gets a job and tries to move on with her life as best as she knows how. Taylor meets new friends and gets pulled into ghost tours, which make serious money. Like, I'm in the wrong profession these kids make so much money.
There's just one catch, Taylor doesn't believe in ghosts.
You could probably guess the ending after that.
This story is about a girl moving on from her guilt of her dead friend and finding new love. It's a simple read and if you're looking for something that doesn't have a lot of twists, this is for you.
I'm not a big fan of ghost centered books. They just don't appeal to me. While this one was interesting to read it was rather bland.
Taylor leaves school and her father to live with her mother, who makes poor life choices, to Sterling Island. Which is extremely haunted. Seriously. Turn the corner and someone died there, thus, haunted.
The reason for her sudden change is because her best friend died and she feels guilty for his death. She gets a job and tries to move on with her life as best as she knows how. Taylor meets new friends and gets pulled into ghost tours, which make serious money. Like, I'm in the wrong profession these kids make so much money.
There's just one catch, Taylor doesn't believe in ghosts.
You could probably guess the ending after that.
This story is about a girl moving on from her guilt of her dead friend and finding new love. It's a simple read and if you're looking for something that doesn't have a lot of twists, this is for you.
February 4, 2013
There were a few parts in the story that seemed to just jump in out of nowhere. Despite some editing issues I thought this story line was very good. I loved how Amy wrote about the dilemma Taylor Gray felt she was in over the feelings she had for her dead boyfriend and the feelings she had for Raine and how she didn't think she could have them both together.
Overall, I gave this book four stars and would recommend it to anyone! :)
Overall, I gave this book four stars and would recommend it to anyone! :)
July 10, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. The story of a teenager having to go through the guilt of "killing" her best friend was interesting. I had read something that was similar but not enough for this to be a copy. For some reason, the fact that a child has to take care of their parent is almost starting to become a cliche but I can get over that. Taylor was something that not all girls can relate to but some can. I'm one of those who can't and to be honest, that is what draws me in farther. The emotions are so well written sometimes that it makes the reader feel the same thing for no reason. I would definitely recommend reading this. It's not all sad and depressing about a girl losing something important. In the end, she gains so much more.
February 1, 2013
Loved it ! Gave me huge :D
November 2, 2013
First off I want to say that this book is one of the best I have read in a little while.
This story is so gritty and so raw in most spots. Taylor Gray is a girl dealing with a load of guilt. She has a severe case of unresolved issues. She lived with her dad by choice for the most part of her seventeen years.
After the tragic loss of her best friend whom she happened to be in love with she moves with her mom who is a tragically flawed lush who lives a meager life objectified by men and getting too old for the gig.
Taylor gets a job at the old train station museum and she takes on a night gig as the local celeb, Raine Tsunami the Ghost Guy's assistant. She's fearless and a non believer in the ghost department. She quickly gains a trio of friends and is living fairly well haunted every time she drives the truck, no, his truck. Things go good with the night job as well as the day job and she's raking in pretty good cash.
She hopes to be able to leave her mom and get her own place where mystery men and cigarette butts aren't a normal sighting.
When her aging mom gets the boot from her scantily uniformed job, it's the end of the money saving Taylor had been doing. She is making enough to support them for now but it is definitely not what she wanted for her life.
She is so super stuck in the past and she has every right to be it was only six months ago after all!
Things begin to happen that make her a believer not that she is in any hurry to tell Raine. Her boss with possibilities.
Her and Anna are really good friends and Margret is quickly becoming a grandmotherly figure for Taylor.
During all of this she battles her inner demons and guilt. She starts to fall for Raine but freaks when he tells her he feels the same. She feels unworthy somehow, she was always the dirt poor girl without a cell phone who was looked down on and treated like crap on a regular basis. Her best friend was her neighbor and he was THE best thing in her life. When he met his fate she crumbled. She moved to get away and be a NEW Taylor but this new Taylor couldn't get away from her crushing feelings for long. She is making an attempt to be happy and have a future she isn't sure she deserves.
She crashes and burns snapping and turning on the sweetest thing that has ever been in her life. She regrets it but feels like it wouldn't be right.
She has a lot to go through to figure it all out and I am glad I got to see her do it in my mind at least.
This is one of those reads where the emotional rollercoaster was worth every second.
I love the storyline. I love the plot and the fact that there are loads of hair raising moments!
There are so many times that Taylor is happy in the moment and then her pain crashes down on her letting the realization that loss and grief can ruin a lot of things in your life and moving on is so much harder than she could imagine.
Taylor's journey to find herself and the closure she desperately needs is an epic journey.
I read this book in ten hours, that's right T-E-N!
That is how hooked I was!
I recommend this book highly and would read it again and again.
And I would not be mad if the author brought us back to Sterling Island and Taylor and Raine!!
Just love this part!
"He brings his lips down to mine, and they squish together perfectly in what is sure to be the world's most epic kiss. It will go down in history as the greatest kiss known to man. We'll be famous"
I cried I admit it! I cried in so many spots! The tangible pain that Taylor was going through made for some emotional moments for me. There were tears of pain and joy shed throughout this read.
This story is so gritty and so raw in most spots. Taylor Gray is a girl dealing with a load of guilt. She has a severe case of unresolved issues. She lived with her dad by choice for the most part of her seventeen years.
After the tragic loss of her best friend whom she happened to be in love with she moves with her mom who is a tragically flawed lush who lives a meager life objectified by men and getting too old for the gig.
Taylor gets a job at the old train station museum and she takes on a night gig as the local celeb, Raine Tsunami the Ghost Guy's assistant. She's fearless and a non believer in the ghost department. She quickly gains a trio of friends and is living fairly well haunted every time she drives the truck, no, his truck. Things go good with the night job as well as the day job and she's raking in pretty good cash.
She hopes to be able to leave her mom and get her own place where mystery men and cigarette butts aren't a normal sighting.
When her aging mom gets the boot from her scantily uniformed job, it's the end of the money saving Taylor had been doing. She is making enough to support them for now but it is definitely not what she wanted for her life.
She is so super stuck in the past and she has every right to be it was only six months ago after all!
Things begin to happen that make her a believer not that she is in any hurry to tell Raine. Her boss with possibilities.
Her and Anna are really good friends and Margret is quickly becoming a grandmotherly figure for Taylor.
During all of this she battles her inner demons and guilt. She starts to fall for Raine but freaks when he tells her he feels the same. She feels unworthy somehow, she was always the dirt poor girl without a cell phone who was looked down on and treated like crap on a regular basis. Her best friend was her neighbor and he was THE best thing in her life. When he met his fate she crumbled. She moved to get away and be a NEW Taylor but this new Taylor couldn't get away from her crushing feelings for long. She is making an attempt to be happy and have a future she isn't sure she deserves.
She crashes and burns snapping and turning on the sweetest thing that has ever been in her life. She regrets it but feels like it wouldn't be right.
She has a lot to go through to figure it all out and I am glad I got to see her do it in my mind at least.
This is one of those reads where the emotional rollercoaster was worth every second.
I love the storyline. I love the plot and the fact that there are loads of hair raising moments!
There are so many times that Taylor is happy in the moment and then her pain crashes down on her letting the realization that loss and grief can ruin a lot of things in your life and moving on is so much harder than she could imagine.
Taylor's journey to find herself and the closure she desperately needs is an epic journey.
I read this book in ten hours, that's right T-E-N!
That is how hooked I was!
I recommend this book highly and would read it again and again.
And I would not be mad if the author brought us back to Sterling Island and Taylor and Raine!!
Just love this part!
"He brings his lips down to mine, and they squish together perfectly in what is sure to be the world's most epic kiss. It will go down in history as the greatest kiss known to man. We'll be famous"
I cried I admit it! I cried in so many spots! The tangible pain that Taylor was going through made for some emotional moments for me. There were tears of pain and joy shed throughout this read.
November 2, 2013
You don't know what sad is until you do something really bad. Like if you accidentally kill your best friend. And once you've known sorrow like that, you don't have to wear all black to prove it.
I'm not.
I'm such a baby when it comes to scary books. I'm not a fan at all, so I was really glad to find that Phantom Summer wasn't some creepy ghost story, but a story about friendships, grief and love, with some really cool ghost tales thrown in for good measure.
Seventeen year old Taylor Grey is dealing with grief, loss and guilt, when she makes the decision to move away from her Dad and live with her Mum in the beachside town of Sterling Island. Taylor is running from the memories of her best friend and the boy she was in love with, Brendan who died. She is not looking for love. She had that with Brendan, and it didn't turn out so well. But she didn't count on the gorgeous and quirky Raine entering her life and putting her all in a spin.
Taylor was such a wonderful character, although at first, I didn't like her. But grief is such a hard thing to deal with, and add into that the added guilt that Taylor feels over Brendan's death and you have a girl who is all kinds of sad. The move to live with her mum might take her away from the proximity of where she spent her time with Brendan but now she also has to deal with her Mum's issues as well and for the most part Taylor is the more grown up of the two.
Not long after arriving in Sterling Island, Taylor encounters Raine Tsunami, the local ghost tour guide. Raine and almost everyone in the town believe in ghosts and has a story to tell. But Taylor doesn't buy it. Ghosts are not real. But she ends up spending time with Raine as he takes her on his adventures digging into the latest ghost story. Even if she doesn't believe, she still enjoys the time they spend together and the discoveries they make. I loved the progression of the relationship between Raine and Taylor. The had a really great friendship. But along with Taylor's increasing feelings towards Raine, also comes a growth in the depth of her guilt. What would Brendan think of her feelings for Raine?
He brings his lips down to mine, and they squish together perfectly in what is sure to be the world's most epic kiss. It will go down in history as the greatest kiss known to man. We'll be famous.
I loved Raine and all his ghost stories. He was popular and outgoing. The complete opposite to Taylor. I loved that he was so sure of his beliefs. But we also got to see a side to him that all his adoring fans didn't get to see. Things haven't always been so easy for him. But above everything he is a good son and a great brother and friend.
Phantom Summer is a book that has some depth to it, but also has lots of light, fun moments. I especially enjoyed the romance, along with hearing the history related to all the town's ghost stories. A really enjoyable read!!
4/5 Ghostly Stars
I'm not.
I'm such a baby when it comes to scary books. I'm not a fan at all, so I was really glad to find that Phantom Summer wasn't some creepy ghost story, but a story about friendships, grief and love, with some really cool ghost tales thrown in for good measure.
Seventeen year old Taylor Grey is dealing with grief, loss and guilt, when she makes the decision to move away from her Dad and live with her Mum in the beachside town of Sterling Island. Taylor is running from the memories of her best friend and the boy she was in love with, Brendan who died. She is not looking for love. She had that with Brendan, and it didn't turn out so well. But she didn't count on the gorgeous and quirky Raine entering her life and putting her all in a spin.
Taylor was such a wonderful character, although at first, I didn't like her. But grief is such a hard thing to deal with, and add into that the added guilt that Taylor feels over Brendan's death and you have a girl who is all kinds of sad. The move to live with her mum might take her away from the proximity of where she spent her time with Brendan but now she also has to deal with her Mum's issues as well and for the most part Taylor is the more grown up of the two.
Not long after arriving in Sterling Island, Taylor encounters Raine Tsunami, the local ghost tour guide. Raine and almost everyone in the town believe in ghosts and has a story to tell. But Taylor doesn't buy it. Ghosts are not real. But she ends up spending time with Raine as he takes her on his adventures digging into the latest ghost story. Even if she doesn't believe, she still enjoys the time they spend together and the discoveries they make. I loved the progression of the relationship between Raine and Taylor. The had a really great friendship. But along with Taylor's increasing feelings towards Raine, also comes a growth in the depth of her guilt. What would Brendan think of her feelings for Raine?
He brings his lips down to mine, and they squish together perfectly in what is sure to be the world's most epic kiss. It will go down in history as the greatest kiss known to man. We'll be famous.
I loved Raine and all his ghost stories. He was popular and outgoing. The complete opposite to Taylor. I loved that he was so sure of his beliefs. But we also got to see a side to him that all his adoring fans didn't get to see. Things haven't always been so easy for him. But above everything he is a good son and a great brother and friend.
Phantom Summer is a book that has some depth to it, but also has lots of light, fun moments. I especially enjoyed the romance, along with hearing the history related to all the town's ghost stories. A really enjoyable read!!
4/5 Ghostly Stars
October 30, 2013
My Rating: 3.5/5
Creepy, spooky, and sweet, Phantom Summer was a wonderful YA paranormal read. The romance had me smiling and the ghosts sent chills down my spine. I really enjoyed reading this lovely book.
The best part of this book, by far, was the creepy factor. The author did a great job making the descriptions of the ghosts super spooky. I read most of this book at night, alone, so I got totally creeped out and started jumping at every noise, certain that it was a ghost. I thought that was brilliantly done and it was my favorite part of this book.
One the other hand, Taylor was the biggest weak point. She was mean. She might have had a reason to have a chip in her shoulder, but it didn't excuse how mean she was, particularly to Raine. And, I didn't like that she was so condescending to ghost believers. She would talk about them like they were dumb, which I thought was rude considering how welcoming they were to her. I might have dealt with it at first, but later on, when she had solid proof of ghosts and she admitted that they existed, she still persisted in being condescending. That was just mean. Later in the book, she gets better, but it was too late for me to really like her. But, at the very least, I ended up being okay with her.
Raine was amazing, though. He was so sweet and adorable and I just loved him. He was charming, though not in an arrogant way, and really easy to adore. I thought he was perfect.
The romance was light, but a main part of the plot. With my issues with Taylor, I might not have liked the romance, but Raine was just so darn adorable, that I found the romance to be sweet. And, after Taylor got over herself, I thought they were a cute couple.
The plot was well paced. I was hooked the entire way through. There were a few slow points, but it wasn't a big deal .I really enjoyed the story and I thought the ending was perfect.
Phantom Summer was a wonderful YA paranormal romance. It was spooky and sweet and I really enjoyed reading it. If you want a great read that will make you smile and send chills down your spine, then you should check this book out.
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Creepy, spooky, and sweet, Phantom Summer was a wonderful YA paranormal read. The romance had me smiling and the ghosts sent chills down my spine. I really enjoyed reading this lovely book.
The best part of this book, by far, was the creepy factor. The author did a great job making the descriptions of the ghosts super spooky. I read most of this book at night, alone, so I got totally creeped out and started jumping at every noise, certain that it was a ghost. I thought that was brilliantly done and it was my favorite part of this book.
One the other hand, Taylor was the biggest weak point. She was mean. She might have had a reason to have a chip in her shoulder, but it didn't excuse how mean she was, particularly to Raine. And, I didn't like that she was so condescending to ghost believers. She would talk about them like they were dumb, which I thought was rude considering how welcoming they were to her. I might have dealt with it at first, but later on, when she had solid proof of ghosts and she admitted that they existed, she still persisted in being condescending. That was just mean. Later in the book, she gets better, but it was too late for me to really like her. But, at the very least, I ended up being okay with her.
Raine was amazing, though. He was so sweet and adorable and I just loved him. He was charming, though not in an arrogant way, and really easy to adore. I thought he was perfect.
The romance was light, but a main part of the plot. With my issues with Taylor, I might not have liked the romance, but Raine was just so darn adorable, that I found the romance to be sweet. And, after Taylor got over herself, I thought they were a cute couple.
The plot was well paced. I was hooked the entire way through. There were a few slow points, but it wasn't a big deal .I really enjoyed the story and I thought the ending was perfect.
Phantom Summer was a wonderful YA paranormal romance. It was spooky and sweet and I really enjoyed reading it. If you want a great read that will make you smile and send chills down your spine, then you should check this book out.
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
February 8, 2014
All in all not bad, but there was just a lot about this book that rubbed me the wrong way. The main characters behavior was a little melodramatic and it really became annoying of the span of the book. Taylor Gray is a seventeen year old girl who carries the death of her best friend, Brendan, on her shoulders. She was in love with him but never had the courage to tell him before it was too late. Instead of sticking around to deal with it and perhaps find closure, Taylor chooses to just up and leave school and move in with her drunk, stripper mother, on Sterling Island, a town obsessed with ghosts. She quickly obtains a job at the train museum, even after many warnings from the museum’s manager/owner that it’s haunted. Through out the book, Taylor is very adamant that she doesn’t believe in ghosts. She ends up meeting Raine Tsunami, the towns local celebrity who provides entertaining ghost tours to tourists and locals on the island. Taylor does fall for Raine, but with the guilt of her best friend’s death, she doesn't allow herself to get close to him. I don’t like giving too much of any book I review away because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone who actually wants to read them (because no one pays attention to spoilers! :P)
There were a lot of issues and inconsistencies that bothered me. The author took two chapters to decided on the spelling for Brendan, and didn't go back to correct the discarded spelling. Sandra Bullock was not in Pretty Woman, a Google search could have cleared that right up. There were also little details that could have easily been corrected. It bothered me that the main character just decided that she wasn’t going to school any more. She didn't attempt to drop out, didn’t give the school any notice, nothing. I’m sure that it was just an easy solution for the story, but it really felt kind of lazy on the author’s part. She also started some really interesting ideas with some of the ghost stories, but she never revisited them. They were introduced like they might be a big deal, but they were just kind of cast off to the side. I will say that I liked this book overall, but what can I say? It was a free book.
There were a lot of issues and inconsistencies that bothered me. The author took two chapters to decided on the spelling for Brendan, and didn't go back to correct the discarded spelling. Sandra Bullock was not in Pretty Woman, a Google search could have cleared that right up. There were also little details that could have easily been corrected. It bothered me that the main character just decided that she wasn’t going to school any more. She didn't attempt to drop out, didn’t give the school any notice, nothing. I’m sure that it was just an easy solution for the story, but it really felt kind of lazy on the author’s part. She also started some really interesting ideas with some of the ghost stories, but she never revisited them. They were introduced like they might be a big deal, but they were just kind of cast off to the side. I will say that I liked this book overall, but what can I say? It was a free book.
October 28, 2013
An underdog who battles self-blame and maternal neglect, Taylor is an eminently likeable protagonist. She refuses to surrender to the caprices of fate; instead, she works and plans to build a life for herself, however humble. Her worst enemy is the guilt over her friend’s death that Taylor wears like a hair shirt (and that eventually readers may find a bit wearing).
Secondary characters are drawn well. Margret the motherly historical society matron is a delight as is Anna the kind new friend. People are attracted to Taylor’s honest and unpretentious demeanor, and I found it endearing that Taylor cannot fathom what others see in her. As her confidence develops, she is finally able to embrace her new community and envision a relationship with the affable Raine. Though the ghost tour venture begins as a need for ready cash, it grows into sweet encounters in which Taylor and Reine explore their new relationship.
Last year my daughter and I embarked on a ghost tour of San Francisco and found ourselves thoroughly entertained with thrilling stories of troubled apparitions and the kind of local history you rarely read in textbooks. So it was no surprise to me that my favorite passages of Phantom Summer were those that followed Taylor and Raine down dark alleys and shadowed streets. Through these characters, I was able to indulge myself once again in the excitement of ghost lore and night walks.
One thing I found missing from Phantom Summer was a definitive climax. The ending sort of devolves into a repetitive angst fest rather than rising to a climactic moment. A ghost novel provides the perfect setting for a dramatic and poignant ending, so I found the lack disappointing.
I believe teen girls, especially those dealing with the loss of a relationship, will find this book engaging as it follows a young person’s journey through grief in all its incarnations. Taylor’s pragmatic, if pessimistic, approach to love and life will bolster the courage of any reader who finds herself fighting self-doubt, yearning to move forward but hampered by the past.
Secondary characters are drawn well. Margret the motherly historical society matron is a delight as is Anna the kind new friend. People are attracted to Taylor’s honest and unpretentious demeanor, and I found it endearing that Taylor cannot fathom what others see in her. As her confidence develops, she is finally able to embrace her new community and envision a relationship with the affable Raine. Though the ghost tour venture begins as a need for ready cash, it grows into sweet encounters in which Taylor and Reine explore their new relationship.
Last year my daughter and I embarked on a ghost tour of San Francisco and found ourselves thoroughly entertained with thrilling stories of troubled apparitions and the kind of local history you rarely read in textbooks. So it was no surprise to me that my favorite passages of Phantom Summer were those that followed Taylor and Raine down dark alleys and shadowed streets. Through these characters, I was able to indulge myself once again in the excitement of ghost lore and night walks.
One thing I found missing from Phantom Summer was a definitive climax. The ending sort of devolves into a repetitive angst fest rather than rising to a climactic moment. A ghost novel provides the perfect setting for a dramatic and poignant ending, so I found the lack disappointing.
I believe teen girls, especially those dealing with the loss of a relationship, will find this book engaging as it follows a young person’s journey through grief in all its incarnations. Taylor’s pragmatic, if pessimistic, approach to love and life will bolster the courage of any reader who finds herself fighting self-doubt, yearning to move forward but hampered by the past.
October 31, 2013
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Phantom Summer is a YA contemporary romance featuring paranormal elements in the form of ghosts. I love the plot; coming of age, mixed with accepting the past, sprinkled with learning to love again. A very haunted island coupled with ghost tours adds just the right amount of excitement.
Taylor lives with constant, gut-wrenching guilt over her best friend/boyfriend's death. She moves to live with her deadbeat mother on Sterling Island to escape the memories that have haunted her since his death. She meets Raine, who runs the local ghost tour company. Pretty soon she's joining him on his ghost hunts even though she's beyond a skeptic. Taylor is a great character. I fell in love with her from chapter one.
Romantic interest Raine is a rather impressive guy. He took over his father's ghost tour company when he was only thirteen after his father was injured. Taylor doesn't really understand his interest in her since she was always considered a loser in her hometown. She's embarrassed by her mother and their less than stellar accommodations, and shocked when wealthy Raine doesn't seem to care.
My favorite part of the novel was the ghost hunts Raine and Taylor went on together. I wouldn't mind reading more about their ghost tours and ghost hunting. Taylor's thoughts can be quite humorous at times, and her remarks (especially during the ghost tours) tend to be witty.
I recommend Phantom Summer to everyone high school and up that enjoys an engaging plot and endearing characters. This novel is a fast-paced read that's difficult to put down once started.
Phantom Summer is a YA contemporary romance featuring paranormal elements in the form of ghosts. I love the plot; coming of age, mixed with accepting the past, sprinkled with learning to love again. A very haunted island coupled with ghost tours adds just the right amount of excitement.
Taylor lives with constant, gut-wrenching guilt over her best friend/boyfriend's death. She moves to live with her deadbeat mother on Sterling Island to escape the memories that have haunted her since his death. She meets Raine, who runs the local ghost tour company. Pretty soon she's joining him on his ghost hunts even though she's beyond a skeptic. Taylor is a great character. I fell in love with her from chapter one.
Romantic interest Raine is a rather impressive guy. He took over his father's ghost tour company when he was only thirteen after his father was injured. Taylor doesn't really understand his interest in her since she was always considered a loser in her hometown. She's embarrassed by her mother and their less than stellar accommodations, and shocked when wealthy Raine doesn't seem to care.
My favorite part of the novel was the ghost hunts Raine and Taylor went on together. I wouldn't mind reading more about their ghost tours and ghost hunting. Taylor's thoughts can be quite humorous at times, and her remarks (especially during the ghost tours) tend to be witty.
I recommend Phantom Summer to everyone high school and up that enjoys an engaging plot and endearing characters. This novel is a fast-paced read that's difficult to put down once started.
December 10, 2017
Taylor leaves her father and her past after losing her best friend. When she moves in with her mom she wants to be the new Taylor. While roaming the New city she runs into Raine who is a ghost Hunter. She falls fast for him and starts feeling bad because of her best friend Brendan whom she loved and never really told him. Great read. Couldn't put down till I was done with the book.
December 7, 2017
I really enjoyed this YA book, despite a few typos. Not sure I liked the resolution, but the concept of carrying around guilt and the impact it can have on developing relationships is very relatable. Ultimately, it is a fun, easy read with engaging characters.
August 22, 2020
Not for me
Not for me. I dislike all teenage drama. The why me syndrome. Everyone hates me, crying. Mother and father divorce. Mom's the alcoholic. Lost my best friend in the whole world. Its my fault pity party.
Not for me. I dislike all teenage drama. The why me syndrome. Everyone hates me, crying. Mother and father divorce. Mom's the alcoholic. Lost my best friend in the whole world. Its my fault pity party.
July 12, 2014
Talk about a spooky book to get you in the Halloween spirit. This was exactly what I needed. Walking down dark, empty roads all alone, spotting mysterious things, and add in a ghost or two and you have yourself a spooktastic book!
Taylor was such a troubled teen. She loses her best friend, her neighbor who she was falling in love with, to a tragic accident, which she blames herself for. She struggles with the guilt, and her moving on seems almost hopeless. She moves to a creepy haunted island to live with her mother in hopes of escaping some of the memories, but finds herself right back in the middle of it all. She becomes friendly with a boy who does ghost tours… and though she doesn’t believe in ghosts, she holds onto the hope that maybe, somehow, she will be able to find her BFF again and get some answers.
And let me tell you, Taylor was BAD-ASS! She wasn’t scared of the dark, wasn’t scared of walking alone on deserted streets in the ghetto, and wasn’t even scared of ghosts. She was hardcore, and the complete opposite of me. (Yeah, I’m a total wimp… I can admit it.) Man, I really envied that girl. She was one tough cookie!
Taylor’s mother was horrendous. I feel like “bad” parents are becoming too much of a clique. Taylor was easily the only adult in her family, and this really took a toll on her. Her mother even attempted to get her to lower to her level and work at a gentleman’s club to make more money so they could get a bigger and better apartment. Taylor was stuck with her mother, yet couldn’t stand the way she’s treated. I don’t blame her… I can’t even imagine a mother doing half of the stuff she did to her own daughter. Lucky for Taylor, her new friend Raine offered her a job making even more money, and pleasantly without the requirement of showing her semi-naked body to drunk old men.
I really enjoyed the sweet romance between Taylor and Raine. It started off so slow and innocent. Taylor was held up with her feels over the loss of her first love that she had a very difficult time giving in to the attraction for this sexy ghost hunter. Raine was the kind of character I really like… full of self-esteem, yet sweet and doesn’t let his fame and fortune go to his head. He was exactly what Taylor needed.
This was the perfect pre-Halloween book to read. It had a light creepiness factor that kept me interested, yet didn’t scare the bejeezus out of me. If you’re looking for a fun Halloweeny spooktastic book for this time of year, yet fun at the same time, I would definitely recommend this one.
(Thanks to Amy Sparling and Oops I Read Again Tours for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
Taylor was such a troubled teen. She loses her best friend, her neighbor who she was falling in love with, to a tragic accident, which she blames herself for. She struggles with the guilt, and her moving on seems almost hopeless. She moves to a creepy haunted island to live with her mother in hopes of escaping some of the memories, but finds herself right back in the middle of it all. She becomes friendly with a boy who does ghost tours… and though she doesn’t believe in ghosts, she holds onto the hope that maybe, somehow, she will be able to find her BFF again and get some answers.
And let me tell you, Taylor was BAD-ASS! She wasn’t scared of the dark, wasn’t scared of walking alone on deserted streets in the ghetto, and wasn’t even scared of ghosts. She was hardcore, and the complete opposite of me. (Yeah, I’m a total wimp… I can admit it.) Man, I really envied that girl. She was one tough cookie!
Taylor’s mother was horrendous. I feel like “bad” parents are becoming too much of a clique. Taylor was easily the only adult in her family, and this really took a toll on her. Her mother even attempted to get her to lower to her level and work at a gentleman’s club to make more money so they could get a bigger and better apartment. Taylor was stuck with her mother, yet couldn’t stand the way she’s treated. I don’t blame her… I can’t even imagine a mother doing half of the stuff she did to her own daughter. Lucky for Taylor, her new friend Raine offered her a job making even more money, and pleasantly without the requirement of showing her semi-naked body to drunk old men.
I really enjoyed the sweet romance between Taylor and Raine. It started off so slow and innocent. Taylor was held up with her feels over the loss of her first love that she had a very difficult time giving in to the attraction for this sexy ghost hunter. Raine was the kind of character I really like… full of self-esteem, yet sweet and doesn’t let his fame and fortune go to his head. He was exactly what Taylor needed.
This was the perfect pre-Halloween book to read. It had a light creepiness factor that kept me interested, yet didn’t scare the bejeezus out of me. If you’re looking for a fun Halloweeny spooktastic book for this time of year, yet fun at the same time, I would definitely recommend this one.
(Thanks to Amy Sparling and Oops I Read Again Tours for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
July 12, 2014
Originally posted here: http://alwayslostinbooks.wordpress.co...
Taylor Gray has been badly broken ever since the accident of her best friend, Brendan. She badly wants to escape all of it so she moves to Sterling Island to live with her mother in order to get away. But she can never really stop thinking about Brendan, especially when she’s blaming herself for his death.
The change of scenery might just help her out where she could see new places and meet new people. But she went there unprepared. The residents of Sterling Island believe the place is haunted and that there are ghosts all over the ruins and historical sites, which also attracts a lot of tourists. Her non-belief was mistaken for bravery, and maybe it wasn’t so bad since she gained a reputation. She also met Raine Tsunami, the famous ghost tour guide in Sterling.
I’m not really sure what to think of Raine Tsunami. Since the story is told in Taylor’s perception, the emotions and descriptions mostly belong to her. And Raine did not leave a very good first impression. Taylor gives off this feeling that Raine is both very dorky, but also really hot. So I’m not quite sure. But he’s definitely a charmer and he worked his way into both Taylor’s heart and mine.
Taylor can get a little unbearable when she gets sucked into this despair over Brendan. In the lines of Raine Tsunami, “I don’t mean to be crass, but he’s dead.” I just hated that Taylor was passing up having a good life because she was so stuck up on blaming herself for what happened to Brendan and feeling guilty about being happy. I think she can be a little way in over her head sometimes. I’ll admit it was annoying, but I think she just really needed time to move on. Fortunately, Raine isn’t one to easily give up on her.
I also like her new friend, Anna, and her boss, Margret. Taylor thinks a little highly of Anna because of how she dresses and her outgoing, perky personality. But I honestly think that she’s a little dorky too and I like her for it. Margret, on the other hand, is an 83-year-old sweet and caring woman who would probably help all the people she cared about if she could. I think she’s just really nice.
**************************************************
OVERALL, Phantom Summer is about Taylor trying to move on from the death of the love of her life in a town where people are all ghost-obsessed. Thankfully it wasn’t too creepy for a scaredy cat like me. I didn’t really know what to expect from this book, but I ended up liking the concept and characters of the book. I also liked going on the ghost tours with Taylor and Raine mostly for the adventure, not the ghosts.
Taylor Gray has been badly broken ever since the accident of her best friend, Brendan. She badly wants to escape all of it so she moves to Sterling Island to live with her mother in order to get away. But she can never really stop thinking about Brendan, especially when she’s blaming herself for his death.
The change of scenery might just help her out where she could see new places and meet new people. But she went there unprepared. The residents of Sterling Island believe the place is haunted and that there are ghosts all over the ruins and historical sites, which also attracts a lot of tourists. Her non-belief was mistaken for bravery, and maybe it wasn’t so bad since she gained a reputation. She also met Raine Tsunami, the famous ghost tour guide in Sterling.
I’m not really sure what to think of Raine Tsunami. Since the story is told in Taylor’s perception, the emotions and descriptions mostly belong to her. And Raine did not leave a very good first impression. Taylor gives off this feeling that Raine is both very dorky, but also really hot. So I’m not quite sure. But he’s definitely a charmer and he worked his way into both Taylor’s heart and mine.
Taylor can get a little unbearable when she gets sucked into this despair over Brendan. In the lines of Raine Tsunami, “I don’t mean to be crass, but he’s dead.” I just hated that Taylor was passing up having a good life because she was so stuck up on blaming herself for what happened to Brendan and feeling guilty about being happy. I think she can be a little way in over her head sometimes. I’ll admit it was annoying, but I think she just really needed time to move on. Fortunately, Raine isn’t one to easily give up on her.
I also like her new friend, Anna, and her boss, Margret. Taylor thinks a little highly of Anna because of how she dresses and her outgoing, perky personality. But I honestly think that she’s a little dorky too and I like her for it. Margret, on the other hand, is an 83-year-old sweet and caring woman who would probably help all the people she cared about if she could. I think she’s just really nice.
**************************************************
OVERALL, Phantom Summer is about Taylor trying to move on from the death of the love of her life in a town where people are all ghost-obsessed. Thankfully it wasn’t too creepy for a scaredy cat like me. I didn’t really know what to expect from this book, but I ended up liking the concept and characters of the book. I also liked going on the ghost tours with Taylor and Raine mostly for the adventure, not the ghosts.
December 14, 2013
** spoiler alert ** For more reviews visit:
http://livinginabookworld.blogspot.gr
The characters
Our main heroine is Taylor Gray,your average seventeen year old girl,who has been secretly in love with her best friend Brendan for a very long time but when he saw her at a party talking and flirting with another guy, he got jealous,confessed his true feelings to Taylor and kissed her.His girlfriend saw the whole thing and caused a scene.Brendan followed her to her car,got in and left the party and Taylor behind because he wanted to explain to her girlfriend what happened but she crashed the car into a tree.She was lucky and survived but Brendan died and his death is Taylor's fault or so she thinks.
So,she leaves everything behind and goes to Sterling Island to live with her mother.She gets a new job at the local museum during the day and cleans the exhibits during the night something that attracts a lot of attention,since everyone on the island believes that the museum is haunted.Well,everyone except Taylor.She doesn't believe in ghosts,she never had.
Then,one day she meets Raine Tsunami,the island's well-known ghost tour guide.His tours are legendary,people love and adore him and the money is pretty good I might add.So when Raine proposes to Taylor to work as his tour assistant,she agrees.It certainly pays better than being a waitress that men can take advantage.She quickly gets accepted by the tour crowd and the locals because of her bravery but when she sees a ghost,a real one right in front of her eyes and helps it cross over to wherever ghosts are supposed to go,she starts believing that because of Brendan's sudden death,he might be a ghost as well.
There's also Raine.His father was a ghost tour guide as well.He grew up with no friends and everybody thought he was a freak because he has a unique gift or some might say a curse.He can see the dead.In Taylor,he sees himself.You see,because of the tour and their midnight ghost haunting,they quickly become friends who have a lot in common and that brings them closer.But Taylor can't be with Raine when she keeps thinking that Brendan might be angry at her and never forgive her.She needs to talk to him in order to get the closure she wants but that's technically impossible since he's dead....or maybe there's another way?
Verdict
Phantom Summer is a romantic paranormal YA story that will make you think twice before you say ghosts aren't real!We may lose our loved ones but they will always be with us.The perfect book for Halloween!
Rating: 4 stars!!
http://livinginabookworld.blogspot.gr
The characters
Our main heroine is Taylor Gray,your average seventeen year old girl,who has been secretly in love with her best friend Brendan for a very long time but when he saw her at a party talking and flirting with another guy, he got jealous,confessed his true feelings to Taylor and kissed her.His girlfriend saw the whole thing and caused a scene.Brendan followed her to her car,got in and left the party and Taylor behind because he wanted to explain to her girlfriend what happened but she crashed the car into a tree.She was lucky and survived but Brendan died and his death is Taylor's fault or so she thinks.
So,she leaves everything behind and goes to Sterling Island to live with her mother.She gets a new job at the local museum during the day and cleans the exhibits during the night something that attracts a lot of attention,since everyone on the island believes that the museum is haunted.Well,everyone except Taylor.She doesn't believe in ghosts,she never had.
Then,one day she meets Raine Tsunami,the island's well-known ghost tour guide.His tours are legendary,people love and adore him and the money is pretty good I might add.So when Raine proposes to Taylor to work as his tour assistant,she agrees.It certainly pays better than being a waitress that men can take advantage.She quickly gets accepted by the tour crowd and the locals because of her bravery but when she sees a ghost,a real one right in front of her eyes and helps it cross over to wherever ghosts are supposed to go,she starts believing that because of Brendan's sudden death,he might be a ghost as well.
There's also Raine.His father was a ghost tour guide as well.He grew up with no friends and everybody thought he was a freak because he has a unique gift or some might say a curse.He can see the dead.In Taylor,he sees himself.You see,because of the tour and their midnight ghost haunting,they quickly become friends who have a lot in common and that brings them closer.But Taylor can't be with Raine when she keeps thinking that Brendan might be angry at her and never forgive her.She needs to talk to him in order to get the closure she wants but that's technically impossible since he's dead....or maybe there's another way?
Verdict
Phantom Summer is a romantic paranormal YA story that will make you think twice before you say ghosts aren't real!We may lose our loved ones but they will always be with us.The perfect book for Halloween!
Rating: 4 stars!!
July 20, 2017
Phantom Summer is about Taylor Gray trying to move on from her best friend and first love's, Brendan, death. To get away from the memories and the chaos that surrounds it, she moves to Sterling Island to live on her mother's couch for the summer. Here, Taylor finds herself finding new friends and a new love. Though, the death of Brendan still haunts her memory, much like the ghosts that haunt around Sterling Island.
This was a cute story, not the best, but cute enough. It was a nice, easy read. Even with the occasional ridiculous names (Raine Tsumani, really? Really?) It would definitely be a fun read for the fall/Halloween season if you're not looking for something too frightening but still want the element of ghosts/supernatural. There were a few parts that did keep me on edge in the horror aspect, but that might have been my easily triggered paranoia and the fact I was reading in a dark house in the middle of the night. Characters were decently thought out and the plot was actually pretty good. Definitely better than I thought it was going to be. (Keep in mind that I had purchased this book about a year ago and had just quickly skimmed over the synopsis. And I may have misread it as well and thought it was going to be something completely different.) This might be one book I wouldn't mind there being a sequel too, but I'll hold my tongue on that one since it seems everything has one nowadays.
Taylor's main perk that draws all the locals to her is that she isn't afraid of anything. Not the ghosts, not the "frightening" over night shift at the railroad museum she works at, nothing.... In fact, she doesn't really believe in ghosts at all, and Mr. Raine Tsumani is determined to prove her wrong. Though, when she finally starts to believe, the guilt of her best friend's death overwhelms her.
This story is a good one about the loss of a one you love, and the trial and errors of recovery. In ways, it did make you think about the life after death and the closure a person can have--both the living and the deceased. It didn't take itself too seriously, but just serious enough to get the whole point across.
This was a cute story, not the best, but cute enough. It was a nice, easy read. Even with the occasional ridiculous names (Raine Tsumani, really? Really?) It would definitely be a fun read for the fall/Halloween season if you're not looking for something too frightening but still want the element of ghosts/supernatural. There were a few parts that did keep me on edge in the horror aspect, but that might have been my easily triggered paranoia and the fact I was reading in a dark house in the middle of the night. Characters were decently thought out and the plot was actually pretty good. Definitely better than I thought it was going to be. (Keep in mind that I had purchased this book about a year ago and had just quickly skimmed over the synopsis. And I may have misread it as well and thought it was going to be something completely different.) This might be one book I wouldn't mind there being a sequel too, but I'll hold my tongue on that one since it seems everything has one nowadays.
Taylor's main perk that draws all the locals to her is that she isn't afraid of anything. Not the ghosts, not the "frightening" over night shift at the railroad museum she works at, nothing.... In fact, she doesn't really believe in ghosts at all, and Mr. Raine Tsumani is determined to prove her wrong. Though, when she finally starts to believe, the guilt of her best friend's death overwhelms her.
This story is a good one about the loss of a one you love, and the trial and errors of recovery. In ways, it did make you think about the life after death and the closure a person can have--both the living and the deceased. It didn't take itself too seriously, but just serious enough to get the whole point across.
August 7, 2015
This was definitely more of an unusual book than I expected. Taylor and her mother weren't as "white trash" as the synopsis makes you think. She was a good kid, just trying to make it on her own despite her mother acting like the child.
The book painted the whole town as very dark and spooky. Leaves you wondering why anyone would view it as a tourist vacation spot. Apparently there are so many places all over the town that is haunted, more than seems plausible.
Taylor gets drawn to Raine and ends up helping out with his tours, although it really doesn't explain well why he is so drawn to her over all the other girls after him. He comes off very strange, as does his whole family with all their odd names. And it seems like a stretch that he and his family make as much money as it says just doing ghost tours!
The ghost parts of the story, in my opinion, were not done very well. To have Taylor go from not believing in any of it, to seeing and speaking to a ghost and solving mysteries, seems a bit of a stretch. I did enjoy her logic of how her dead friend must be a ghost and her wanting to look for him and make peace, but that whole plot twist mystery was built up a lot to have it not be much of a story in the end. They had a friendship that almost turned into a relationship, just teen angst that didn't go anywhere and ended in an untimely tragedy. Not really enough to make them lovers torn apart. And I was completely annoyed at her never getting into the glove compartment on his (her) truck. Really, break the lock, there could be important things in there that would help you heal.
Overall, an ok read to pass the time but comes off as a pretty immature plot line.
The book painted the whole town as very dark and spooky. Leaves you wondering why anyone would view it as a tourist vacation spot. Apparently there are so many places all over the town that is haunted, more than seems plausible.
Taylor gets drawn to Raine and ends up helping out with his tours, although it really doesn't explain well why he is so drawn to her over all the other girls after him. He comes off very strange, as does his whole family with all their odd names. And it seems like a stretch that he and his family make as much money as it says just doing ghost tours!
The ghost parts of the story, in my opinion, were not done very well. To have Taylor go from not believing in any of it, to seeing and speaking to a ghost and solving mysteries, seems a bit of a stretch. I did enjoy her logic of how her dead friend must be a ghost and her wanting to look for him and make peace, but that whole plot twist mystery was built up a lot to have it not be much of a story in the end. They had a friendship that almost turned into a relationship, just teen angst that didn't go anywhere and ended in an untimely tragedy. Not really enough to make them lovers torn apart. And I was completely annoyed at her never getting into the glove compartment on his (her) truck. Really, break the lock, there could be important things in there that would help you heal.
Overall, an ok read to pass the time but comes off as a pretty immature plot line.
April 7, 2015
At 17, Taylor has had her share of unhappiness and hardship, but as she drives to Sterling Island on the gulf coast to stay with her estranged mother, she is determined to start a new life, be a new Taylor. One who doesn't feel isolated and alone at school, who doesn't live in an old and battered trailer in the poor side of town, one who doesn't have to work at the local greasy, rundown diner, one who doesn't pawn her inherited diamond ring that was left to her by her grandmother, and most of all, someone that lost her very best friend that died in a car accident six months ago. The tragedy and anguish of losing the one person she really loved is just more than she can deal with, and she has to start new somewhere else. Living with her mom, who is loud, drinks too much, is a stripper turned waitress, and certainly makes bad choices almost always, will be difficult, but it couldn't possibly be worse that the way she is living right now. Sterling Island is known as a tourist town that is famous for the ghost population it holds, and she soon meets the even more famous "Raine Tsunami" and his thriving business with ghost tours. It all seems silly to Taylor, and she just wants to get through the day without feeling so miserable, something she won't easily do. Making new friends seems to help temporarily, but Taylor may not be able to get past the overwhelming guilt she feels about the car accident. Maybe she will be haunted herself for a very time.
I downloaded this book from Amy Sparling's newsletter, and quickly read it in one day. Such a great read! Thanks, Amy!
I downloaded this book from Amy Sparling's newsletter, and quickly read it in one day. Such a great read! Thanks, Amy!
November 29, 2016
Taylor is a morose and despondent girl. Her friend Brendan recently died. Was it her fault?
A summer away at her mom's dilapidated place at the beach may just be the thing to help Taylor forget about Brendan--at least, that's her hope. The memories haunt her to this day, yet she shoves them down her throat, drowning them in succulent poison. She doesn't believe in anything and doesn't want to care about anything.
Story was very slow. All Taylor does is walk around this boring town like a sad, cynical drone. What's even more annoying is that she's stuck with people that believe in ghosts. Boy, people really do believe in anything (Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, God, etc.)
I did wonder what happened to Brendan. There was definitely a story there, but Taylor just pitter-patters about it, revealing insignificant snippets here and there. She never really divulges the whole truth. And what was the deal with Raine? It was creepy how he kept appearing out of nowhere. Why did he want to scare her? Why did he want her to believe in ghosts? It seemed that the whole goal of the story was to believe in what you can't see or whatever.
Ensconced in the lame history of a boring town, Taylor becomes Raine's assistant in his ghost tour business. And they spend all summer giving ghost tours to visitors, engaging and entertaining audiences.
I tried to give this story a chance because it sounded like an interesting story with ghosts and mystery and all, but it just didn't work out that way. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
A summer away at her mom's dilapidated place at the beach may just be the thing to help Taylor forget about Brendan--at least, that's her hope. The memories haunt her to this day, yet she shoves them down her throat, drowning them in succulent poison. She doesn't believe in anything and doesn't want to care about anything.
Story was very slow. All Taylor does is walk around this boring town like a sad, cynical drone. What's even more annoying is that she's stuck with people that believe in ghosts. Boy, people really do believe in anything (Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, God, etc.)
I did wonder what happened to Brendan. There was definitely a story there, but Taylor just pitter-patters about it, revealing insignificant snippets here and there. She never really divulges the whole truth. And what was the deal with Raine? It was creepy how he kept appearing out of nowhere. Why did he want to scare her? Why did he want her to believe in ghosts? It seemed that the whole goal of the story was to believe in what you can't see or whatever.
Ensconced in the lame history of a boring town, Taylor becomes Raine's assistant in his ghost tour business. And they spend all summer giving ghost tours to visitors, engaging and entertaining audiences.
I tried to give this story a chance because it sounded like an interesting story with ghosts and mystery and all, but it just didn't work out that way. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
June 12, 2017
Ah this is truly a summer holiday relaxy ghost story book. I like ghosts you know, haven't I told you that before?
So yes, a book that does not require too much thinking. Sometimes it really feels nice to take a breather and this story is perfect for that. The characters are kind of cliché. Weird unpopular girl as a main character and the mysterious, popular guy that every girl falls head over heels in love with. And of course said guy is not interested in any of the pretty, nice girls but he decides to win over the weird new girl. Now this part of the story didn't interst me at all...love and romance are good things to have but boring and soppy to read about (with a few exceptions of course). What I did like were the ghosts! Yay ghosts! Unfortunately the ghosts were oddly friendly...while I like the evil vengeful ghosts. Bit of a let-down? Sure, but still a very enjoyable read hence the 4 stars.
Also most predicatable mini-plot-twist ever...i think I literally screamed at the main character at one point because she was so blind and couldn't see what was right in front of her (at some points literally under her nose)
AND! Worst parenting ever (at least on the mother's side) Are there really parents like that out there?! C'mon child service where are you when fictional children need you?
Oh well, sit back relax and read. If you don't like it at least you won't lose a lot of reading time since this is rather short and fast-paced.
So yes, a book that does not require too much thinking. Sometimes it really feels nice to take a breather and this story is perfect for that. The characters are kind of cliché. Weird unpopular girl as a main character and the mysterious, popular guy that every girl falls head over heels in love with. And of course said guy is not interested in any of the pretty, nice girls but he decides to win over the weird new girl. Now this part of the story didn't interst me at all...love and romance are good things to have but boring and soppy to read about (with a few exceptions of course). What I did like were the ghosts! Yay ghosts! Unfortunately the ghosts were oddly friendly...while I like the evil vengeful ghosts. Bit of a let-down? Sure, but still a very enjoyable read hence the 4 stars.
Also most predicatable mini-plot-twist ever...i think I literally screamed at the main character at one point because she was so blind and couldn't see what was right in front of her (at some points literally under her nose)
AND! Worst parenting ever (at least on the mother's side) Are there really parents like that out there?! C'mon child service where are you when fictional children need you?
Oh well, sit back relax and read. If you don't like it at least you won't lose a lot of reading time since this is rather short and fast-paced.
February 8, 2014
I downloaded Phantom Summer to my kindle when it was free on Amazon. I liked the paranormal premise and after saturating myself in cheesy romances, I needed a break. Phantom Summer was the perfect distraction.
Taylor Gray moves to Sterling Island to get over the death of her best friend/almost-boyfriend Brendan. She moves in with her mother, who works as a waitress at a strip club and has the mentality of a seventeen-year-old. The entire island is supposedly haunted and island local Raine Tsunami and his family capitalize on the belief.
The story moves along. There weren't too many lulls. My one major complaint was Taylor refused to let herself be happy with Raine because she believed that Brendan would be mad at her if she moved on with her life. She constantly pushed Raine away even though they obviously love each other. By the time the end came, I was over Taylor's constant self-pitying. It took some weird dream about Brendan for her to realize she was being dumb.
Even with that, I enjoyed the story. The paranormal elements were actually fun and reminded me of my own paranormal explorations at that age. I would recommend Phantom Summer if you're looking for a rainy day read.
Taylor Gray moves to Sterling Island to get over the death of her best friend/almost-boyfriend Brendan. She moves in with her mother, who works as a waitress at a strip club and has the mentality of a seventeen-year-old. The entire island is supposedly haunted and island local Raine Tsunami and his family capitalize on the belief.
The story moves along. There weren't too many lulls. My one major complaint was Taylor refused to let herself be happy with Raine because she believed that Brendan would be mad at her if she moved on with her life. She constantly pushed Raine away even though they obviously love each other. By the time the end came, I was over Taylor's constant self-pitying. It took some weird dream about Brendan for her to realize she was being dumb.
Even with that, I enjoyed the story. The paranormal elements were actually fun and reminded me of my own paranormal explorations at that age. I would recommend Phantom Summer if you're looking for a rainy day read.
May 3, 2014
If you are looking for a story with ghosts but isn't really scary then this is the perfect book to read. In Phantom Summer Taylor feels so guilty over her best friends death because she believes she caused the accident that killed him. Taylor decides to move away and try to forget all about her old life. She moves in with her mom and her life is getting better until she starts to believe in ghosts because she sees one for herself one day. That makes is hard for her to move on and be happy with Raine, the handsome ghost tourist guide she meets. I loved the characters especially Raine and Margaret. The ending was alright but I felt like there needed to be just a little more. I really liked this book but it's missing something I'm just not sure what so because of that I would give it 4 and a half stars. Actually more like four and three fourths if that's even possible (but yes it's possible because that's what I decided)!
November 4, 2016
I really liked this book but I did have some nit-picky issues with it. It starts out great, we learn about Taylor and her move to a new town and the people she meets. There's some great atmosphere with the ghostly locations and we get to see Taylor and Raine interact on their ghost tours. But then, things get sappy. Taylor has this huge conflict with how she killed her best friend and it just drags the rest of the story down. We lose the creepy ghost encounters and focus on Taylor's baggage. And can we lose the drama of having a single kiss change lives (for better or worse). And now that the book is over I have all these random questions about the mundane things that happen in Taylor's life. I feel somewhat unresolved and slightly irritated. This book could have been half as long if Taylor had just looked in the glove box. Then we could have had more ghosts!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2014
Loved this book. Taylor tried so hard not to fall for Raine because she doesn't deserve to be happy because her best friend died. She has a crappy mother!!!! who depends on her teenager to make enough $ to pay the bills. I liked that Taylor was tough but also had her human moments where she just fell apart (I could use more of those moments myself!). I liked that her new friends were not easily turned off by her sometimes crusty exterior. I liked the grandmotherly-ness of her boss at the train museum. I liked that Taylor had an experience that helped her move on. I just really liked it all.
April 30, 2014
Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for both love stories and the paranormal. It maybe it's because I found the main character Taylor very relatable. Maybe it's because every girl wants to meet a mysterious man who charms their socks off while at the same time making them realize how easy it is to love their quirky ways. Raine is a fantastic character. I loved the ghost tours, the ups and downs and all the details of the island and the history. This might not have been the best written book but it really was a great story.
February 9, 2015
I wanted to rate this higher, and I would have because I really enjoyed it. This author has great potential. I took away a star because she really could have used an editor. But more importantly, I felt like I had no closure at the end. I mean, that's it? What about life with her mom, and school? I can't see her gaining closure on Brendan so easily, either. Her best friend died, and she suffers all through the book, but a quick dream resolves all her emotions about the trauma she felt? I wish there was more depth to the ending. But I still enjoyed the book, a very good light read.
February 7, 2014
3 stars
Needs some serious editing; plot points don't mesh (main character falls and sprains her ankle so badly that she needs help limping, then takes off running in the next sentence), spelling and grammar errors abound, Sandra Bullock was not in Pretty Woman and Denali is an SUV not a motorcycle.
The story itself was interesting enough and different from the norm which I appreciate. Easy read if you can look past some of the glaring mistakes.
Needs some serious editing; plot points don't mesh (main character falls and sprains her ankle so badly that she needs help limping, then takes off running in the next sentence), spelling and grammar errors abound, Sandra Bullock was not in Pretty Woman and Denali is an SUV not a motorcycle.
The story itself was interesting enough and different from the norm which I appreciate. Easy read if you can look past some of the glaring mistakes.
February 4, 2014
This book could benefit from a really close line edit (to catch typos and grammatical errors) as well as a clarification of some areas that seem out of place. For example, at one point Raine tells Taylor people like her for climbing stairs where a woman disappeared, but the scene with the stairs doesn't happen until later in the book. However, the story is strong and the characters are interesting.
February 9, 2014
Escaping the ghost she has never seen, Taylor moves in with her troubled mother in a beach community rife with ghosts. And one hunky ghost hunter!
Amy Sparling has an enchanting gift for catching teenaged angst, bravery, and growth. And place! If you always wanted to live in a beach community, Amy pulls you into one that rings true and adds the enchantment of ghosts!
There is no way to not admire and want to find out 'what next' for Phantom Summer's Main Character, Taylor.
Amy Sparling has an enchanting gift for catching teenaged angst, bravery, and growth. And place! If you always wanted to live in a beach community, Amy pulls you into one that rings true and adds the enchantment of ghosts!
There is no way to not admire and want to find out 'what next' for Phantom Summer's Main Character, Taylor.
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