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Cold Summer
Today, he’s a high school dropout with no future.
Tomorrow, he’s a soldier in World War II.
Kale Jackson has spent years trying to control his time-traveling ability but hasn’t had much luck. One day he lives in 1945, fighting in the war as a sharpshooter and helplessly watching soldiers—friends—die. Then the next day, he’s back in the present, where WWII has bled into his modern life in the form of PTSD, straining his relationship with his father and the few friends he has left. Every day it becomes harder to hide his battle wounds, both physical and mental, from the past.
When the ex-girl-next-door, Harper, moves back to town, thoughts of what could be if only he had a normal life begin to haunt him. Harper reminds him of the person he was before the PTSD, which helps anchor him to the present. With practice, maybe Kale could remain in the present permanently and never step foot on a battlefield again. Maybe he can have the normal life he craves.
But then Harper finds Kale’s name in a historical article—and he’s listed as a casualty of the war. Kale knows now that he must learn to control his time-traveling ability to save himself and his chance at a life with Harper. Otherwise, he’ll be killed in a time where he doesn’t belong by a bullet that was never meant for him.
Tomorrow, he’s a soldier in World War II.
Kale Jackson has spent years trying to control his time-traveling ability but hasn’t had much luck. One day he lives in 1945, fighting in the war as a sharpshooter and helplessly watching soldiers—friends—die. Then the next day, he’s back in the present, where WWII has bled into his modern life in the form of PTSD, straining his relationship with his father and the few friends he has left. Every day it becomes harder to hide his battle wounds, both physical and mental, from the past.
When the ex-girl-next-door, Harper, moves back to town, thoughts of what could be if only he had a normal life begin to haunt him. Harper reminds him of the person he was before the PTSD, which helps anchor him to the present. With practice, maybe Kale could remain in the present permanently and never step foot on a battlefield again. Maybe he can have the normal life he craves.
But then Harper finds Kale’s name in a historical article—and he’s listed as a casualty of the war. Kale knows now that he must learn to control his time-traveling ability to save himself and his chance at a life with Harper. Otherwise, he’ll be killed in a time where he doesn’t belong by a bullet that was never meant for him.
322 pages, Hardcover
First published May 2, 2017
60 people are currently reading
6132 people want to read
About the author
Gwen Cole
9 books216 followersGwen Cole is an award-winning author of Cold Summer and Ride On. She grew up in northern New York and after moving to Virginia, she met her husband while playing in a hardcore band. When she’s not writing, you can find her playing Xbox, skiing in the winter, playing softball in the summer, and always watching too much Netflix. She now lives in Richmond, Virginia with her family, always longing for colder winters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
April 7, 2017
I'm a sucker for a good time travel book, so when Gwen emailed me about her book, I was all over it, without knowing more than that about it.
Love love loved Harper and Kale. They're both such good people and I really enjoyed getting the dual POV. Their chemistry was more about the connection between them and it was fantastic.
The plot is a bit of a slow burn, even when Kale is in the war time period, but the entire book has sort of a quiet anticipation that I wasn't expecting. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I loved the build up and the ending and could easily read these two forever.
**Huge thanks to Gwen for providing the arc free of charge**
Love love loved Harper and Kale. They're both such good people and I really enjoyed getting the dual POV. Their chemistry was more about the connection between them and it was fantastic.
The plot is a bit of a slow burn, even when Kale is in the war time period, but the entire book has sort of a quiet anticipation that I wasn't expecting. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I loved the build up and the ending and could easily read these two forever.
**Huge thanks to Gwen for providing the arc free of charge**
May 2, 2017
I'm not going to lie, the cover is what first drew me to this story, it is outright gorgeous and was pretty hard for me to resist. Once I read the description and saw that this would be told through the point of view of both a male and female I knew I needed to read it. Through in the time traveling aspect and I was sold.
I'll tell you a little secret, I love books about time traveling but for whatever reason, they very rarely actually work for me. Either the concept of the actual time traveling is too tedious to understand or it isn't explained enough to make it believable and some how ends up ruining the story for me. But still, I am drawn to them and can't seem to resist them. So I'll admit, I went into this with absolutely no expectations at all and knowing this was the authors debit novel, I think they might even have been lower than usual, nothing against the author of course, you just never know what to expect from a first time book.
But you know what? This worked for me. Even if everything wasn't explained, it still just worked. I think I was so focused on the actual story and not the time traveling aspect and it just simply worked. It was pretty well written and even if nothing was ever explained completely, yeah, it worked.
This was a fun debut novel and one that I'm glad I took the chance and time on to read.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I'll tell you a little secret, I love books about time traveling but for whatever reason, they very rarely actually work for me. Either the concept of the actual time traveling is too tedious to understand or it isn't explained enough to make it believable and some how ends up ruining the story for me. But still, I am drawn to them and can't seem to resist them. So I'll admit, I went into this with absolutely no expectations at all and knowing this was the authors debit novel, I think they might even have been lower than usual, nothing against the author of course, you just never know what to expect from a first time book.
But you know what? This worked for me. Even if everything wasn't explained, it still just worked. I think I was so focused on the actual story and not the time traveling aspect and it just simply worked. It was pretty well written and even if nothing was ever explained completely, yeah, it worked.
This was a fun debut novel and one that I'm glad I took the chance and time on to read.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
April 10, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing and Edelweiss.)
This was a YA time-travel story, about a boy who kept travelling back to 1945.
I felt really sorry for Kale in this story, and I understood why he thought of his ability as a curse. Suddenly travelling back to 1945 with little warning, and being a soldier in the war must have been really hard, and I thought it was very brave of him to fight as best as he could.
The storyline in this was about Kale time-travelling, and his old friend Harper (who had just come to stay with her uncle), knew nothing about it. He did eventually confess though, and Harper then did her best to try and help him, even though there was little she could really do. We also got a little bit of romance between Kale and Harper, but not a lot, and another storyline about how Kale’s family reacted to his time-travelling problem. The story did drag for me though, and I kept finding excuses to put this down for a while.
The ending to this was okay, but I did still have questions unanswered.
6.25 out of 10
“There’s no worse feeling that watching your friends die…”
This was a YA time-travel story, about a boy who kept travelling back to 1945.
I felt really sorry for Kale in this story, and I understood why he thought of his ability as a curse. Suddenly travelling back to 1945 with little warning, and being a soldier in the war must have been really hard, and I thought it was very brave of him to fight as best as he could.
The storyline in this was about Kale time-travelling, and his old friend Harper (who had just come to stay with her uncle), knew nothing about it. He did eventually confess though, and Harper then did her best to try and help him, even though there was little she could really do. We also got a little bit of romance between Kale and Harper, but not a lot, and another storyline about how Kale’s family reacted to his time-travelling problem. The story did drag for me though, and I kept finding excuses to put this down for a while.
The ending to this was okay, but I did still have questions unanswered.
6.25 out of 10
August 13, 2017
It's easy to imagine an extra ability, maybe mind-reading or time-travel, and evoke a fantasy-filled life around it. But, benefit becomes burden when involuntary and uncontrollable-and that is the actuality of Kale's life in Cold Summer.
Characters that feel familiar create instant empathy while the story-line sneaks in, adding intrigue and mystery in this bodacious book.
Characters that feel familiar create instant empathy while the story-line sneaks in, adding intrigue and mystery in this bodacious book.
May 17, 2017
2 Stars
Overview: DNF @ 56%
This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2017, so color-me-disappointed.
Our protagonist is Kale:
Only probably not that healthy.
Instead, Kale is a high-school drop-out with an ability to time travel. However, he only jumps back to WWII and serves on the front lines. He suffers from PTSD as a result of a war that occurred 60 years ago. Our story starts when Harper, one of his best friends from childhood, moves back to town.
Pros:
I love, love, love this idea. It’s exceptionally creative, unlike anything I’ve read before and had an overwhelming amount of potential.
There are some really stark and nuanced discussions of PTSD and familial relationships. Though neither was explored in detail, the writing carries both very well and flows smoothly.
Cons:
It’s such a great idea, that’s somehow almost irrelevant to the book??? Kale suddenly is jumping to one location and one location only. But no one even wonders why he jumps at all? Let alone why it changed? There’s surprisingly few scenes of Kale actually going back in time, and the few that were present seemed very stereotypical of WWII scenes.
That sounds really calloused and that's not how I mean it. Kale's stories from WWII were just very... predictable. As soon as random side character shares a smoke with Kale, we know he’s going to die in Kale's arms shortly after. It's just what always happens in generic war-front stories. The very few flashbacks were all this predictable and offered surprisingly little to the conversation—though they were emotional and written well.
Harper and Kale sound exactly alike. I honestly kept forgetting whose POV I was reading.
Uncle Jasper isn’t even really a character. He’s just a stereotypical old man who works on cars and spouts questionable advice:
Seriously, everything the guy said sounded like a fortune cookie—It’s all pretty, but not very substantial.
Once I got to the part where everyone determines Kale’s time-jumping is dependent on his relationship with his father—that he really can control it, he just has to belieeeevvvveeee! --that's when I gave up.
It’s not even poorly written. It’s just not interesting.
In Conclusion:
A fantastic idea that somehow gets bogged down with a predictable narrative.
Overview: DNF @ 56%
This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2017, so color-me-disappointed.
Our protagonist is Kale:
Only probably not that healthy.
Instead, Kale is a high-school drop-out with an ability to time travel. However, he only jumps back to WWII and serves on the front lines. He suffers from PTSD as a result of a war that occurred 60 years ago. Our story starts when Harper, one of his best friends from childhood, moves back to town.
Pros:
I love, love, love this idea. It’s exceptionally creative, unlike anything I’ve read before and had an overwhelming amount of potential.
There are some really stark and nuanced discussions of PTSD and familial relationships. Though neither was explored in detail, the writing carries both very well and flows smoothly.
Cons:
It’s such a great idea, that’s somehow almost irrelevant to the book??? Kale suddenly is jumping to one location and one location only. But no one even wonders why he jumps at all? Let alone why it changed? There’s surprisingly few scenes of Kale actually going back in time, and the few that were present seemed very stereotypical of WWII scenes.
That sounds really calloused and that's not how I mean it. Kale's stories from WWII were just very... predictable. As soon as random side character shares a smoke with Kale, we know he’s going to die in Kale's arms shortly after. It's just what always happens in generic war-front stories. The very few flashbacks were all this predictable and offered surprisingly little to the conversation—though they were emotional and written well.
Harper and Kale sound exactly alike. I honestly kept forgetting whose POV I was reading.
Uncle Jasper isn’t even really a character. He’s just a stereotypical old man who works on cars and spouts questionable advice:
“People don’t make mistakes,” he says, “They make decisions.”
”Some people fight through it, and some people choose not to by ignoring it. It’s up to them, and we can only support and love them. But sometimes that isn’t enough. No matter what we do.”
”Sometimes being apart can start healing before it begins.
Seriously, everything the guy said sounded like a fortune cookie—It’s all pretty, but not very substantial.
Once I got to the part where everyone determines Kale’s time-jumping is dependent on his relationship with his father—that he really can control it, he just has to belieeeevvvveeee! --that's when I gave up.
It’s not even poorly written. It’s just not interesting.
In Conclusion:
A fantastic idea that somehow gets bogged down with a predictable narrative.
August 17, 2017
“Ripples in a pond.
That’s all the past is.”
•I shelved Cold Summer as science-fiction, but I'm the first to be baffled by such a label. Time travel plays a major part, it’s true, and of course the book wouldn’t be the same without it. But I’d think about it twice before saying Cold Summer is a book about time travel. I would say instead it’s a book mainly about growing up and the nagging fear everyone caught up in this process can’t help but feel. In this sense, I saw Kale’s (our main character) experiences as a powerful and ingeniously conveyed metaphor for the passage between child and adulthood, without all the annoying moralizing that usually comes with the words of who insists on talking about it but doesn’t know the first thing about who the words “young adult” refer to. It’s a story as old as the world, but it’s astonishing the number of writers who think they have nailed it, but in fact are as clueless as it gets.
•So in my mind, Cold Summer is more of a contemporary, but with none of the cheesiness that we readers are accustomed to associate with our typical contemporary YA. Cold Summer is a delicate yet powerful, and well thought-out novel. Part of the merit goes to the writing, always precise, always matter-of-fact, but also gentle and pleasing.
•The characters may not be exceptionally well-written or stand out for any particular reason, but they felt true and relatable, and when I say they may as well be your next-door friends, I only mean it as praise. Kale was probably the most and best fleshed-out, and more than once I found myself on the edge of tears reading his POVs (and I'm infamously cold-hearted). I wanted to laugh and cry with him, I felt his rage and I shared his desperation at his helplessness. I don't remember the last time I met such a relatable character, and I have no doubt he will stay with me for a long, long time.
➽ Cold Summer was nothing like I expected, but it was much better for precisely this reason. I have no words to express its lightness of touch, the strength of its message, the beauty of it all. It still lacked a certain something that would have allowed me to grant the fifth star, but it's nontheless an astonishing good read, and one I highly recommend to everyone.
That’s all the past is.”
•I shelved Cold Summer as science-fiction, but I'm the first to be baffled by such a label. Time travel plays a major part, it’s true, and of course the book wouldn’t be the same without it. But I’d think about it twice before saying Cold Summer is a book about time travel. I would say instead it’s a book mainly about growing up and the nagging fear everyone caught up in this process can’t help but feel. In this sense, I saw Kale’s (our main character) experiences as a powerful and ingeniously conveyed metaphor for the passage between child and adulthood, without all the annoying moralizing that usually comes with the words of who insists on talking about it but doesn’t know the first thing about who the words “young adult” refer to. It’s a story as old as the world, but it’s astonishing the number of writers who think they have nailed it, but in fact are as clueless as it gets.
•So in my mind, Cold Summer is more of a contemporary, but with none of the cheesiness that we readers are accustomed to associate with our typical contemporary YA. Cold Summer is a delicate yet powerful, and well thought-out novel. Part of the merit goes to the writing, always precise, always matter-of-fact, but also gentle and pleasing.
•The characters may not be exceptionally well-written or stand out for any particular reason, but they felt true and relatable, and when I say they may as well be your next-door friends, I only mean it as praise. Kale was probably the most and best fleshed-out, and more than once I found myself on the edge of tears reading his POVs (and I'm infamously cold-hearted). I wanted to laugh and cry with him, I felt his rage and I shared his desperation at his helplessness. I don't remember the last time I met such a relatable character, and I have no doubt he will stay with me for a long, long time.
➽ Cold Summer was nothing like I expected, but it was much better for precisely this reason. I have no words to express its lightness of touch, the strength of its message, the beauty of it all. It still lacked a certain something that would have allowed me to grant the fifth star, but it's nontheless an astonishing good read, and one I highly recommend to everyone.
June 18, 2016
This book was exactly what I wanted it to be. I love time travel books, and COLD SUMMER blended the excitement of time travel beautifully with the complexities of PTSD, war, romance, friendship, and family. It was more than just a time travel book; it had heart and emotion and depth.
I especially loved the family dynamics. There were family members who didn't act like family, and non-family members who did. I love found family, and COLD SUMMER did a fantastic job of exploring those relationships that can fill the holes in your heart made by those who are supposed to love you unconditionally, but don't.
And the writing is so contemplative, full of powerful lines like, "It's weird to miss something I'll never have and never did," and "He's only half of what he used to be, slowly learning how to become himself again."
If time travel is even the tiniest bit up your alley, you should definitely pick up this one.
I especially loved the family dynamics. There were family members who didn't act like family, and non-family members who did. I love found family, and COLD SUMMER did a fantastic job of exploring those relationships that can fill the holes in your heart made by those who are supposed to love you unconditionally, but don't.
And the writing is so contemplative, full of powerful lines like, "It's weird to miss something I'll never have and never did," and "He's only half of what he used to be, slowly learning how to become himself again."
If time travel is even the tiniest bit up your alley, you should definitely pick up this one.
June 13, 2016
I was so lucky to be a beta reader for Gwen. I’d been eyeing this book for a VERY long time, and she doesn’t disappoint. I love her take on time travel. The whole idea that the past is actually the future was fascinating. Her characters feel so real and so accessible. At times, I wanted to reach through the pages and hug them, and rooting for them was effortless. COLD SUMMER is a narrative that weaves the real problems of present day teens with the fascinating concept of time travel. I’m looking forward to seeing more books from her!
Read
July 19, 2015I beta read this for Gwen in the early days and I'm SO thrilled it's getting published!!
June 1, 2016
Time travel is awesome, right? Who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to visit the past?
Except… What if the past in question is a World War II battle?
And, oh yeah, you don’t have any control of when you’re suddenly transported there.
COLD SUMMER made me seriously rethink my time travel daydreams.
Kale has never had control over his time traveling abilities. One minute he’s in the present, the next he finds himself 1945 where, as he puts it, “there’s blood on the snow and screams in the night.” And while journeying to the past isn’t a new thing for him, the frequency with which they’re occurring sure is. By the time COLD SUMMER begins, Kale is essentially living two lives.
And while it’s during the WWII battles that he faces the risk of death, life in the present isn’t exactly easy either. Think about it: if you were constantly disappearing, how would you explain yourself? How could you make it through school? How could you ever get a real job?
Kale has no hope of living a normal life.
This book isn’t only about time travel though. It’s about two lost, lonely teenagers who are trying to find out who they are.
As Kale struggles with his two separate worlds—neither of which he’s sure he wants to be a part of—Harper has demons of her own.
She’s returned to her uncle’s house, the place where she spent childhood summers, only this time her stay will be permanent. Harper, always optimistic, tries to push aside her problems and readjust to the life she one knew—including reconnecting with Kale, who she hasn’t seen for many years.
Except, that only makes things more complicated. Because how can Harper let herself get close to someone who’s doomed to always leave her?
Basically, time travel is pretty bleak for all parties involved.
COLD SUMMER is intense and moody, and often sad. But it’s hopeful too. The same way Kale and Harper cling to the memories of the warm, happy summers from their childhoods, they hold onto the hope that Kale will somehow find a way to keep himself rooted in the present.
Of course, it gets a little hard to keep up the optimism once Harper finds a newspaper article that mentions Kale’s death during WWII.
Like I said. This whole time travel thing, is not as fun as it sounds.
Except… What if the past in question is a World War II battle?
And, oh yeah, you don’t have any control of when you’re suddenly transported there.
COLD SUMMER made me seriously rethink my time travel daydreams.
Kale has never had control over his time traveling abilities. One minute he’s in the present, the next he finds himself 1945 where, as he puts it, “there’s blood on the snow and screams in the night.” And while journeying to the past isn’t a new thing for him, the frequency with which they’re occurring sure is. By the time COLD SUMMER begins, Kale is essentially living two lives.
And while it’s during the WWII battles that he faces the risk of death, life in the present isn’t exactly easy either. Think about it: if you were constantly disappearing, how would you explain yourself? How could you make it through school? How could you ever get a real job?
Kale has no hope of living a normal life.
This book isn’t only about time travel though. It’s about two lost, lonely teenagers who are trying to find out who they are.
As Kale struggles with his two separate worlds—neither of which he’s sure he wants to be a part of—Harper has demons of her own.
She’s returned to her uncle’s house, the place where she spent childhood summers, only this time her stay will be permanent. Harper, always optimistic, tries to push aside her problems and readjust to the life she one knew—including reconnecting with Kale, who she hasn’t seen for many years.
Except, that only makes things more complicated. Because how can Harper let herself get close to someone who’s doomed to always leave her?
Basically, time travel is pretty bleak for all parties involved.
COLD SUMMER is intense and moody, and often sad. But it’s hopeful too. The same way Kale and Harper cling to the memories of the warm, happy summers from their childhoods, they hold onto the hope that Kale will somehow find a way to keep himself rooted in the present.
Of course, it gets a little hard to keep up the optimism once Harper finds a newspaper article that mentions Kale’s death during WWII.
Like I said. This whole time travel thing, is not as fun as it sounds.
January 6, 2017
Official comments (blurb!): A heart-wrenching ride through past and present, Cold Summer beautifully explores the bonds of family- the ones we're born into, and the ones we choose.
Less official comments: For all those who long to see more family relationships portrayed in YA- this book is for you! Gwen Cole's portrayal of messy, changing, wonderful relationships between a teen girl and her mother, a teen boy and his father, between teens and their siblings, and so on, are all quite thoughtfully rendered and engrossing. Many powerful emotional scenes, combined with riveting episodes of time-travel make this book a page turner, and one you'll carry with you long after the last page is read.
Less official comments: For all those who long to see more family relationships portrayed in YA- this book is for you! Gwen Cole's portrayal of messy, changing, wonderful relationships between a teen girl and her mother, a teen boy and his father, between teens and their siblings, and so on, are all quite thoughtfully rendered and engrossing. Many powerful emotional scenes, combined with riveting episodes of time-travel make this book a page turner, and one you'll carry with you long after the last page is read.
May 4, 2017
*EDIT 05/02/17*
So this book is officially out in the world today, and I can finally post my full review!
COLD SUMMER by Gwen Cole is a book for those who crave complicated characters and a plot that unwinds itself with a beautiful and methodical sort of grace. My fellow adventure geeks, if you go into this book expecting nonstop, neck-breaking action, you will be disappointed. So put your adventure caps away, and strap in for an emotional roller coaster ride that you won't be regretting.
My first and biggest praise for this book is the way the many complicated and painful family dynamics were handled. It could have fallen into the realm of cliché over and over again, but it thankfully never did. There were many losses, both physical and metaphorical, but I think the toughest loss for me was Aunt Holly's, who's already been gone for several years when the book begins. It's just that simple nostalgia, of remembering the way things were and wanting to go back to it, that really makes the reader feel the absence. On Kale's side of the story, the most painful loss was his relationship with Bryce, his brother. I felt like it was the loss that made Kale's character feel the most alone in his world. There was basically no one to have his back anymore, which is why he felt more at home in the past, in the hostile yet very loyal environment that was WWII.
My second praise for COLD SUMMER, is it's romance. It was something the characters grew very naturally into, with just enough awkwardness along the way to make it real. For a while, Kale and Harper didn't know how to handle this thing they had for each other, which really is the way first loves kind of go. By the end of the book, I felt like they were a solid unit who would have each other's backs for life. Both the protagonists voices, Kale and Harper, were their own, and I thought the way they acted and reacted to each other was true to their voices right up until the end.
I like that the time-traveling element became a secondary character, never distracting, never demanding too much from the reader. It was simple the way that ghost stories are simple. Simple the way that true love is simple. It doesn't have to be explained. It just is. And I was totally happy with that.
So at the end of the day, COLD SUMMER burrowed itself deep into my heart where it will stay for a very long time. I fell in love with Harper, with Kale, with Uncle Jasper, Miles and Grace, and even Kale's long-distance sister Libby (who I was quite sad to never meet). For a moment, all of their problems became my own, and I was thankful that by the end of the book, most of those problems had made their much needed peace with the characters. I couldn't be more proud of a YA debut.
*original review*
Why can't this book be published already!!!! I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for this book in it's earlier draft form, but I can't WAIT to get my hands on a hard copy. The world needs to be exposed to the awesomeness that is Gwen Cole!! It's been a LONG time coming.
So this book is officially out in the world today, and I can finally post my full review!
COLD SUMMER by Gwen Cole is a book for those who crave complicated characters and a plot that unwinds itself with a beautiful and methodical sort of grace. My fellow adventure geeks, if you go into this book expecting nonstop, neck-breaking action, you will be disappointed. So put your adventure caps away, and strap in for an emotional roller coaster ride that you won't be regretting.
My first and biggest praise for this book is the way the many complicated and painful family dynamics were handled. It could have fallen into the realm of cliché over and over again, but it thankfully never did. There were many losses, both physical and metaphorical, but I think the toughest loss for me was Aunt Holly's, who's already been gone for several years when the book begins. It's just that simple nostalgia, of remembering the way things were and wanting to go back to it, that really makes the reader feel the absence. On Kale's side of the story, the most painful loss was his relationship with Bryce, his brother. I felt like it was the loss that made Kale's character feel the most alone in his world. There was basically no one to have his back anymore, which is why he felt more at home in the past, in the hostile yet very loyal environment that was WWII.
My second praise for COLD SUMMER, is it's romance. It was something the characters grew very naturally into, with just enough awkwardness along the way to make it real. For a while, Kale and Harper didn't know how to handle this thing they had for each other, which really is the way first loves kind of go. By the end of the book, I felt like they were a solid unit who would have each other's backs for life. Both the protagonists voices, Kale and Harper, were their own, and I thought the way they acted and reacted to each other was true to their voices right up until the end.
I like that the time-traveling element became a secondary character, never distracting, never demanding too much from the reader. It was simple the way that ghost stories are simple. Simple the way that true love is simple. It doesn't have to be explained. It just is. And I was totally happy with that.
So at the end of the day, COLD SUMMER burrowed itself deep into my heart where it will stay for a very long time. I fell in love with Harper, with Kale, with Uncle Jasper, Miles and Grace, and even Kale's long-distance sister Libby (who I was quite sad to never meet). For a moment, all of their problems became my own, and I was thankful that by the end of the book, most of those problems had made their much needed peace with the characters. I couldn't be more proud of a YA debut.
*original review*
Why can't this book be published already!!!! I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for this book in it's earlier draft form, but I can't WAIT to get my hands on a hard copy. The world needs to be exposed to the awesomeness that is Gwen Cole!! It's been a LONG time coming.
October 5, 2016
So this book was AWESOME. It’s addictive, romantic, and has an amazing, and original, hook in the form of a totally original spin on time travel.
The set-up is that the protagonist, Kale, can travel in time, but he can’t control when he travels in time, or where it is that he goes. And as the book starts, he is stuck returning to a particularly brutal time period: World War II.
Because of his abilities, Kale is forced to live two lives, one where he is trying to be an ordinary teenager (and has to constantly cover his long absences when he vanishes to go back in time), in the other, he must be a soldier. And being forced to live these two totally separate lives is understandably taking a toll on him and his relationships. It's a great setup, filled with drama and conflict. And Kale is an amazing, complex character. I really felt for him – you can really feel how trapped he is by his predicament. He is incredibly likeable, and I found myself constantly rooting for him, hoping desperately that he would find a way out of this situation – which is a sign of how engrossed I was in this book.
The premise is amazing, but what makes this book truly unputdownable is the characters. This book is dual POV, split between Kale, and Harper, who I just adored (gamer characters are seriously my fave, and Harper takes her games seriously). AND THESE TWO GO TOGETHER SO WELL. I won’t say more than that for fear of spoilers, but they are total cuties when they share scenes.
This is fun, addictive slice of sci-fi romance. Fans of time travel or just well written YA in general are going to love this when it comes out next year. Basically, my reaction to this book is this gif:
The set-up is that the protagonist, Kale, can travel in time, but he can’t control when he travels in time, or where it is that he goes. And as the book starts, he is stuck returning to a particularly brutal time period: World War II.
Because of his abilities, Kale is forced to live two lives, one where he is trying to be an ordinary teenager (and has to constantly cover his long absences when he vanishes to go back in time), in the other, he must be a soldier. And being forced to live these two totally separate lives is understandably taking a toll on him and his relationships. It's a great setup, filled with drama and conflict. And Kale is an amazing, complex character. I really felt for him – you can really feel how trapped he is by his predicament. He is incredibly likeable, and I found myself constantly rooting for him, hoping desperately that he would find a way out of this situation – which is a sign of how engrossed I was in this book.
The premise is amazing, but what makes this book truly unputdownable is the characters. This book is dual POV, split between Kale, and Harper, who I just adored (gamer characters are seriously my fave, and Harper takes her games seriously). AND THESE TWO GO TOGETHER SO WELL. I won’t say more than that for fear of spoilers, but they are total cuties when they share scenes.
This is fun, addictive slice of sci-fi romance. Fans of time travel or just well written YA in general are going to love this when it comes out next year. Basically, my reaction to this book is this gif:
May 3, 2017
Who else is ALL IN for these time/interdimensional travel books we have going on? ME. ME. ME. Nancy first introduced me to Cold Summer when the cover first came out and I was hooked.
Love story? Yep.
Complicated by (uncontrollable) time travel? Yes, ma'am.
Set in WWII? Just put that book in my hands now pls.
Little known fact: I am fascinated by ground warfare. It was my favorite part of history class. I love that Gwen made it so real. One of my favorite parts of the book is how Kale carries his trauma between time periods.
"When I'm there...I feel needed. Wanted. I feel like I'm there for a purpose, even though I don't know what it is yet."
The relationship between Kale and Harper is such a slow, savoring burn. I did not want to rush what was happening between them.
I'm crossing into unknown territory with a reckless heart, ready to take a step toward something new.
This is not only the story of Kale and Harper but of their complicated family dynamics and what it means to find good in each other when their worlds don't reflect what their hearts are feeling.
Plus, Gwen's writing is the perfect blend of poetry within prose. This is one of those rare times where I wish there was a second book. Hint hint.
Love story? Yep.
Complicated by (uncontrollable) time travel? Yes, ma'am.
Set in WWII? Just put that book in my hands now pls.
Little known fact: I am fascinated by ground warfare. It was my favorite part of history class. I love that Gwen made it so real. One of my favorite parts of the book is how Kale carries his trauma between time periods.
"When I'm there...I feel needed. Wanted. I feel like I'm there for a purpose, even though I don't know what it is yet."
The relationship between Kale and Harper is such a slow, savoring burn. I did not want to rush what was happening between them.
I'm crossing into unknown territory with a reckless heart, ready to take a step toward something new.
This is not only the story of Kale and Harper but of their complicated family dynamics and what it means to find good in each other when their worlds don't reflect what their hearts are feeling.
Plus, Gwen's writing is the perfect blend of poetry within prose. This is one of those rare times where I wish there was a second book. Hint hint.
April 22, 2017
COLD SUMMER is a book I’ve been desperate to read ever since I first heard the premise of the story – a contemporary boy who can’t stop himself travelling back in time to the front lines of World War Two. Gwen Cole’s YA debut will be out in early May, but I was lucky enough to read an ARC, and it didn’t disappoint. The warmth of Kale’s modern life and the chill of his wartime days goes so much deeper than the temperature of the weather. This is the story of the trickiness of first love, the pressure to make difficult decisions, and the importance of family and friends. Kale and Harper are so wonderful, and Cole’s writing really evokes whatever era Kale is in, allowing all her characters to really live on every page. She made sure I could feel the hot sun on my skin and the freezing snow melting down the back of my neck, just as Kale did. Definitely one for contemporary and historical fiction fans alike!
September 8, 2016
I had the very good fortune to read this book early, and I enjoyed it greatly. COLD SUMMER follows Kale Jackson as he spends a summer time-traveling between an Iowa farm town and a brutal 1944 winter on the front lines in WWII. I was hooked by the premise and Cole is an excellent storyteller, navigating ambitious switches between present-day and historical settings--in addition to dual POVs.
For instance: Harper, the girl-next-door, says in present-day: "I’m back in the place where I spent my summers every year—a place filled with memories of a boy with secrets and a house I loved more than my own."
And Kale, finding himself thrown into a front line battle in WWII: "The broken trees creak where they’re split, and the moans of men echo through the morning fog."
I came to care about these characters so much and have been thinking about this engrossing book ever since I turned the last page.
For instance: Harper, the girl-next-door, says in present-day: "I’m back in the place where I spent my summers every year—a place filled with memories of a boy with secrets and a house I loved more than my own."
And Kale, finding himself thrown into a front line battle in WWII: "The broken trees creak where they’re split, and the moans of men echo through the morning fog."
I came to care about these characters so much and have been thinking about this engrossing book ever since I turned the last page.
February 27, 2017
An amazing, imaginative book about time travel. Love the twists and turns as Kale moves back and forth between his real life and his time travel life that returns him time and again to the battlefield in World War II. Coping with PTSD, and his desperate realization that the time travelling is ruining his life, Kale struggles to stay grounded in reality, aided by love interest Harper.
Well written thriller, full of heart and imagination, this book had me on the edge of my seat!
Well written thriller, full of heart and imagination, this book had me on the edge of my seat!
February 11, 2017
A powerful story about powerlessness and PTSD and war and disconnection. Loved every minute of it.
April 28, 2017
Kale has been time traveling since he was a young boy. He can't control it and finds himself traveling more and more often, causing him to have a tense relationship with his family. Because his home life is strained he feels like he doesn't belong in either time period. When he was younger he always found himself in different periods of time each time he traveled, but now he finds himself returning to the same time period as a US soldier in the middle of war with Germany. Kale promises his friends and family that he will always return, but he's starting to think that he may not be able to keep that promise.
Normally I don't read books about time travel but the synopsis hooked me and I couldn't say no. I'm glad I ended up giving this one a chance. While this book does primarily focus on time travel, there were some really great moments with other characters. This story is told in dual POV between Kale and Harper. Kale and Harper are both still teenagers so they are still trying to find their way. Harper has a lot going on between her and her mother when she decides to move in with her uncle. I loved the sweet moments between the two of them. I thought the relationship between Kale and Harper felt a little awkward though. I didn't feel the connection as much as I wanted to.
I thought Cold Summer had a really bleak and moody feel to it for most of the story because of the issues going on with Kale and his family, and also Harper with her mother, but most importantly the struggles Kale was having with traveling. It also fills you with hope because you really want Kale to find a way to keep himself rooted in the present. I couldn't put this one down. I needed to know what was going to happen.
* I received an ARC of this title via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. *
Normally I don't read books about time travel but the synopsis hooked me and I couldn't say no. I'm glad I ended up giving this one a chance. While this book does primarily focus on time travel, there were some really great moments with other characters. This story is told in dual POV between Kale and Harper. Kale and Harper are both still teenagers so they are still trying to find their way. Harper has a lot going on between her and her mother when she decides to move in with her uncle. I loved the sweet moments between the two of them. I thought the relationship between Kale and Harper felt a little awkward though. I didn't feel the connection as much as I wanted to.
I thought Cold Summer had a really bleak and moody feel to it for most of the story because of the issues going on with Kale and his family, and also Harper with her mother, but most importantly the struggles Kale was having with traveling. It also fills you with hope because you really want Kale to find a way to keep himself rooted in the present. I couldn't put this one down. I needed to know what was going to happen.
* I received an ARC of this title via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. *
November 18, 2017
Time travel is one of my favorite things and this quiet, slow building present day/ WWII time travel story that's really invested in its characters is no exception. I really enjoyed getting to know Harper and Kale, the two leading characters, because both of them are such fascinating characters. In the novel, perspective alternates between the two characters - and I have to say that Kale's chapters are pretty cool as we get to see him deal with time travelling to the Western Front in World War II. Harper's chapters, for the most part, feel very much like YA contemporary that deals with tough issues like PTSD. Even if this novel didn't include a time travel element, this story would neatly double as a contemporary. I, for one, think it's brilliant that it can successfully do both. I'm definitely looking forward to Cole's next novel, Ride on.
August 25, 2019
Eh işte, ne iyi ne kötü. ..
April 26, 2017
Cold Summer was one of the most unique books I have ever read. I was pretty sure I was going to love this book because it has time travel in it and it involves WWII. I'm so glad to say I was right because I did end up loving the story. I want more books like this!
I just want to say that I totally adored Harper. I love that she was a gamer, I love her style and I love how she was written. Also, kudos for the mention of Doctor Who (I'm a huge Whovian!).
Kale was a little bit harder to connect to but I warmed up to im in no time. I really felt bad for him with what he went through when he travels to WWII + his struggle with PTSD. But I loved his relationship with Harper and how she helped him with everything.
The book had a magical realism feel to it, which I loved so much. The ending left me wanting more, though. And I felt like I didn't get to know some of the characters well enough since it was a pretty quick read.
The secondary characters made the book extra special. My favorite was Harper's uncle Jasper because I loved him for helping Kale as much as he could. I'm sure a lot of people will agree with me on that one. Uncle Jasper was the best!
Overall, Cold Summer by Gwen Cole was an amazingly touching time travel romance. Simple and yet complex at the same time, it is now one of my favorite stories ever.
I just want to say that I totally adored Harper. I love that she was a gamer, I love her style and I love how she was written. Also, kudos for the mention of Doctor Who (I'm a huge Whovian!).
Kale was a little bit harder to connect to but I warmed up to im in no time. I really felt bad for him with what he went through when he travels to WWII + his struggle with PTSD. But I loved his relationship with Harper and how she helped him with everything.
The book had a magical realism feel to it, which I loved so much. The ending left me wanting more, though. And I felt like I didn't get to know some of the characters well enough since it was a pretty quick read.
The secondary characters made the book extra special. My favorite was Harper's uncle Jasper because I loved him for helping Kale as much as he could. I'm sure a lot of people will agree with me on that one. Uncle Jasper was the best!
Overall, Cold Summer by Gwen Cole was an amazingly touching time travel romance. Simple and yet complex at the same time, it is now one of my favorite stories ever.
March 24, 2017
Kale is a reluctant time traveler. He has no control over when or where he goes. It makes his life very difficult when he disappears from school, from home, from baseball practice and any social gathering. Only a very few close friends know his secret and those who don’t, are intolerant of his sudden absences. Recently Kale has been returning to the same time and place – Europe 1945, fighting the Germans. The cold of the harsh winter and the injuries he sustains, stay with him when he returns to his real life. When a good friend moves back next door, Kale is thrilled but also scared. The girl, Harper, wants to be supportive but doesn’t understand his problem and he won’t tell her. The book builds suspense as the two get closer but with the war so dangerous, Kale isn’t sure he will survive. Kale is an amazing, sympathetic character. This is a time travel story like no other. Cole brings a fresh take on a popular theme and enlivens it with warmth and affection. This book is amazing in its portrayal of wartime and the coldness that is depicted, is felt by the reader; a coldness that pervades Kale’s life in both timeframes. A powerful, moving and totally original book that is sure to warm hearts.
March 16, 2017
OMG…SO GOOD!!!
I have been in a reading slump of sorts but this book got me back into the groove again. Just wow, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this book because I almost NEVER read the blurbs I pick books based on cover and title. So glad I fell in love with this cover.
Kale has this small issue where he is able to time travel and he always knows when it will happen because he gets really cold. But when Harper moves into her Uncle’s house for good he has less desire to leave this place. Harper knows there is something different about Kale and she wants to help him if she only knew what is going on. Do these two help each other through this rough period of their lives? Is Kale able to travel less? Do the truth about everything come out? What happens?
I have never read anything by this author before and I would highly recommend it. The writing style is absolutely amazing. I felt like I was a part of this book it was so well written. I fell in love with the characters and could easily put myself in their places. I adored the plot of this book. The subtle little lessons in this book were also great. I highly recommend this book and it is great for all ages!
I have been in a reading slump of sorts but this book got me back into the groove again. Just wow, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this book because I almost NEVER read the blurbs I pick books based on cover and title. So glad I fell in love with this cover.
Kale has this small issue where he is able to time travel and he always knows when it will happen because he gets really cold. But when Harper moves into her Uncle’s house for good he has less desire to leave this place. Harper knows there is something different about Kale and she wants to help him if she only knew what is going on. Do these two help each other through this rough period of their lives? Is Kale able to travel less? Do the truth about everything come out? What happens?
I have never read anything by this author before and I would highly recommend it. The writing style is absolutely amazing. I felt like I was a part of this book it was so well written. I fell in love with the characters and could easily put myself in their places. I adored the plot of this book. The subtle little lessons in this book were also great. I highly recommend this book and it is great for all ages!
February 25, 2017
This book was sort of like a dream... One of those you wake up from and then want to continue because you NEED to know what. happens. next. I thoroughly enjoyed following along Kale and Harper (both individually and together) as they navigated their often normal, but even more often, extraordinary teen lives. Their romance was very sweet and the issues Cole touched on were timely and relatable to teen and adult readers alike. But my favorite part of the story was the dreamlike quality of Kale's time travel interlaced within a seemingly contemporary tale. It was reminiscent, for me, of A.S. King's Everyone Sees the Ants. A thoughtful, exciting, and lovely must read.
June 2, 2017
Words fail me with this book. It was so well done and fantastic that I've had a hard time relating it into a review.
Cold Summer may not exactly be contemporary, but it is as close as I will ever get. Contemporary with Time Travel! What’s not to love? I’m dubbing Cold Summer as The Time Traveller’s Wife meets The Notebook, and you will have just as many feels. What Gwen Cole does with nuanced characters, family ties, and personal willpower, is something I have been searching for. These characters are an exquisite work of art.
The main character Kale deals with PTSD, which I have not experienced but I feel like it was handled in a way that was realistic and informative.
I'm also not one for romance, but this story was so gosh darn cute I didn't mind it.
I think Cold Summer is an absolutely amazing debut and I cannot wait to see what Gwen writes next! This is definitely a heart wrenching, summer read that will keep you engaged form start to finish.
Cold Summer may not exactly be contemporary, but it is as close as I will ever get. Contemporary with Time Travel! What’s not to love? I’m dubbing Cold Summer as The Time Traveller’s Wife meets The Notebook, and you will have just as many feels. What Gwen Cole does with nuanced characters, family ties, and personal willpower, is something I have been searching for. These characters are an exquisite work of art.
The main character Kale deals with PTSD, which I have not experienced but I feel like it was handled in a way that was realistic and informative.
I'm also not one for romance, but this story was so gosh darn cute I didn't mind it.
I think Cold Summer is an absolutely amazing debut and I cannot wait to see what Gwen writes next! This is definitely a heart wrenching, summer read that will keep you engaged form start to finish.
September 14, 2019
Yazarın ilk kitabıymış, ama çok çok sevdim. Kale’ın hissettiklerini, Harper’ın duygu halini öylesine iyi anladım ve yaşadım ki... Aslında fantastik bir hikaye ama bir o kadar da dramatik ve romantik. Yazar umarım bu tarz ile devam eder. Önerimdir.♥️
December 21, 2019
I'm not normally someone who likes books with a time travel element, but this one is really good for being a debut novel!
May 26, 2017
3.5.
I had been looking forward to reading this book since the end of last year. The story just sounded so intriguing and I haven't read many time travel books that I like. When this came in the mail I was so excited to read it. I started reading the first few chapters, but I wasn't really getting into it. A lot was going on at the time and I just wasn't getting a lot of reading in unfortunately. So, I decided to hold off for a few days and read something else while things settled down. When I started, while it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, I would have to say it was still enjoyable and I do not regret reading it.
Cold Summer is about a boy named Kale, and a friend of his he hasn't seen in years, Harper, a girl he's always had some feelings for. He can travel through time and has seen many places, but for the past year he keeps traveling back to World War II. It's starting to affect him and things are getting harder and harder in both time periods. When Harper comes into his life he finally starts to feel like he belongs and that maybe things will start looking up. But then a quick search on the internet leaves his world spinning and a dark future ahead of him.
I enjoyed Cold Summer a lot and I thought the author did a really great job considering this is her first published book. I really did end up liking the characters and the story and how it ended. While I didn't feel like the characters were as developed as they could have been or the story as well fleshed out, I still connected to them and I was drawn in by the story.
Kale was an interesting character and I loved seeing how the war was affecting his emotional state. I thought the author did such an awesome job on his PTSD and really showed what it can be like for those who have been involved in a war. Kale was such a troubled person and all of his relationships were so broken and he was so lost in how he could fix them. He had few friends and those who should have been right by his side turned their back and treated him cruelly. When Harper comes in it starts to show how much he needed that kind person in his life, even though he still struggles with his relationship with her.
While Kale's and Harper's relationship was interesting at some points, I kind of wish the author would have focused more on Kale and his father's relationship. I thought there was so much she could have done here and I was a little disappointed we didn't get to see this as much, especially since it's such a huge problem throughout most of the book.
Harper was an interesting character. I didn't connect with her as much and I didn't feel like her character was as developed as it could have been, but I still enjoyed reading her chapters and getting to know her. She was also very troubled and even though she wasn't going through what Kale was we could still see how much her past haunted her and how badly she wanted a real chance at a good life.
I really loved watching Harper and her uncle's relationship. I've known many people who haven't had stability in their lives and their journey and when they finally find that stability in their lives it helps so much. I thought the author did such a great job on this part and I loved seeing Harper's journey. It's evident that it will still take her a long time to really feel good about her life and for her wounds to heal, but the steps we got to see her take were really cool and I enjoyed it a lot.
There were other characters I ended up liking, for instance, Uncle Jasper. He was the one character I liked from the beginning and continued to like till the end. I loved Kale's friend, Miles, and I was sad we didn't see more of him because I just loved him so much and I thought whenever he was in the story he added a lot. There was this one character at the end who plays a really big part even though we only see him a couple of times and I think he was my favorite character.
The story was pretty good and I loved the time traveling aspect of it all, but I think it was really cool how the author weaved in some contemporary in there as well. Part of me feels like maybe this would have been better if it had just been a time-travel novel or just a contemporary, but I still enjoyed it and how the story developed.
I felt bad giving this a three star rating since it's a book I've been looking forward to reading for a long time and this is the author's first book, but there were just some things I didn't like and I didn't feel like I could give it any higher of a rating.
The main reason I didn't give this a higher rating is the characters and worldbuilding. It all felt flat and two dimensional. The characters were pretty much flat throughout the whole book and I just wouldn't feel the kind of emotion I was hoping for. There were several moments where the writing felt deeper and I even found myself smiling or crying. I did get the emotion, just not as much as I was hoping for.
The romance wasn't as in depth as I was hoping for and I kind of felt like maybe the story could have done without the romance. I would have liked it a lot more I think if it had just focused on Kale and his father's relationship and seen them grow as a family. They were both going through a lot, Kale wanted his father to believe him about his time-traveling ability, but he didn't. His father wanted his son to stop lying to him and to stop disappearing for days at a time and it never seemed like it was going to stop. I would have loved to see them grow and seen a deeper relationship than we saw.
There were also some plot holes and things that didn't make sense. I was confused for a lot of the time and just felt like something was missing and this became frustrating for me. I wanted answers, but I never got them and the plot holes just seemed to get bigger. It wasn't as bad as some novels I read, but I still didn't like being left feeling this way.
All in all, while I did enjoy this book and I will be recommending it because I think there are some people who may enjoy it more than myself, it just wasn't the right book for me. I don't regret reading it, I'm actually glad I pushed myself to read it and I would say the author actually did a good job for this being her first book.
I would rate this 13+. There wasn't a lot in it, but there was some violence, cursing, and an almost sex scene that got a little too steamy for my liking.
When Kale would travel back to WWII some scenes could get a little bloody and intense and there were several scenes where Kale would remember how he had killed before.
There was also quite a few scenes where Kale would smoke or wish for a smoke. This was unrealistic in many ways and inappropriate in my opinion.
There were few scenes where Kale and Harper would kiss, but one scene almost leads to sex and it was a bit descriptive.
I hope this was helpful and you enjoyed it. :)
I had been looking forward to reading this book since the end of last year. The story just sounded so intriguing and I haven't read many time travel books that I like. When this came in the mail I was so excited to read it. I started reading the first few chapters, but I wasn't really getting into it. A lot was going on at the time and I just wasn't getting a lot of reading in unfortunately. So, I decided to hold off for a few days and read something else while things settled down. When I started, while it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, I would have to say it was still enjoyable and I do not regret reading it.
Cold Summer is about a boy named Kale, and a friend of his he hasn't seen in years, Harper, a girl he's always had some feelings for. He can travel through time and has seen many places, but for the past year he keeps traveling back to World War II. It's starting to affect him and things are getting harder and harder in both time periods. When Harper comes into his life he finally starts to feel like he belongs and that maybe things will start looking up. But then a quick search on the internet leaves his world spinning and a dark future ahead of him.
I enjoyed Cold Summer a lot and I thought the author did a really great job considering this is her first published book. I really did end up liking the characters and the story and how it ended. While I didn't feel like the characters were as developed as they could have been or the story as well fleshed out, I still connected to them and I was drawn in by the story.
Kale was an interesting character and I loved seeing how the war was affecting his emotional state. I thought the author did such an awesome job on his PTSD and really showed what it can be like for those who have been involved in a war. Kale was such a troubled person and all of his relationships were so broken and he was so lost in how he could fix them. He had few friends and those who should have been right by his side turned their back and treated him cruelly. When Harper comes in it starts to show how much he needed that kind person in his life, even though he still struggles with his relationship with her.
While Kale's and Harper's relationship was interesting at some points, I kind of wish the author would have focused more on Kale and his father's relationship. I thought there was so much she could have done here and I was a little disappointed we didn't get to see this as much, especially since it's such a huge problem throughout most of the book.
Harper was an interesting character. I didn't connect with her as much and I didn't feel like her character was as developed as it could have been, but I still enjoyed reading her chapters and getting to know her. She was also very troubled and even though she wasn't going through what Kale was we could still see how much her past haunted her and how badly she wanted a real chance at a good life.
I really loved watching Harper and her uncle's relationship. I've known many people who haven't had stability in their lives and their journey and when they finally find that stability in their lives it helps so much. I thought the author did such a great job on this part and I loved seeing Harper's journey. It's evident that it will still take her a long time to really feel good about her life and for her wounds to heal, but the steps we got to see her take were really cool and I enjoyed it a lot.
There were other characters I ended up liking, for instance, Uncle Jasper. He was the one character I liked from the beginning and continued to like till the end. I loved Kale's friend, Miles, and I was sad we didn't see more of him because I just loved him so much and I thought whenever he was in the story he added a lot. There was this one character at the end who plays a really big part even though we only see him a couple of times and I think he was my favorite character.
The story was pretty good and I loved the time traveling aspect of it all, but I think it was really cool how the author weaved in some contemporary in there as well. Part of me feels like maybe this would have been better if it had just been a time-travel novel or just a contemporary, but I still enjoyed it and how the story developed.
I felt bad giving this a three star rating since it's a book I've been looking forward to reading for a long time and this is the author's first book, but there were just some things I didn't like and I didn't feel like I could give it any higher of a rating.
The main reason I didn't give this a higher rating is the characters and worldbuilding. It all felt flat and two dimensional. The characters were pretty much flat throughout the whole book and I just wouldn't feel the kind of emotion I was hoping for. There were several moments where the writing felt deeper and I even found myself smiling or crying. I did get the emotion, just not as much as I was hoping for.
The romance wasn't as in depth as I was hoping for and I kind of felt like maybe the story could have done without the romance. I would have liked it a lot more I think if it had just focused on Kale and his father's relationship and seen them grow as a family. They were both going through a lot, Kale wanted his father to believe him about his time-traveling ability, but he didn't. His father wanted his son to stop lying to him and to stop disappearing for days at a time and it never seemed like it was going to stop. I would have loved to see them grow and seen a deeper relationship than we saw.
There were also some plot holes and things that didn't make sense. I was confused for a lot of the time and just felt like something was missing and this became frustrating for me. I wanted answers, but I never got them and the plot holes just seemed to get bigger. It wasn't as bad as some novels I read, but I still didn't like being left feeling this way.
All in all, while I did enjoy this book and I will be recommending it because I think there are some people who may enjoy it more than myself, it just wasn't the right book for me. I don't regret reading it, I'm actually glad I pushed myself to read it and I would say the author actually did a good job for this being her first book.
I would rate this 13+. There wasn't a lot in it, but there was some violence, cursing, and an almost sex scene that got a little too steamy for my liking.
When Kale would travel back to WWII some scenes could get a little bloody and intense and there were several scenes where Kale would remember how he had killed before.
There was also quite a few scenes where Kale would smoke or wish for a smoke. This was unrealistic in many ways and inappropriate in my opinion.
There were few scenes where Kale and Harper would kiss, but one scene almost leads to sex and it was a bit descriptive.
I hope this was helpful and you enjoyed it. :)
May 15, 2017
Cold Summer is a book that's difficult to review. I didn't love the book but I liked it. It's enjoyable because the slow pacing allows you to experience every moment clearly but the slowness also made it feel like very little happens in the book.
The story carried a calm atmosphere but with a storyline that increased in intensity. I loved the surreal quality to the book. Kale's ability is too strange yet it's real and dictates his whole life. I felt so hopeless for him as he again and again got dragged into another timeline. It was hard watching Kale live his other life knowing what was waiting for him at the end. His real life suffered harshly because of it but when Harper reenters his life, he gets a chance to pull free.
Harper was a constant in Kale's ever-changing life. She motivated him to want to work things out with his dad, to want to try to control his ability. Harper had her own headaches but it never stopped her from wanting to help Kale. They had mutual understanding and respect which made for a very sweet and healthy relationship. It was adorable watching their budding romance blossom.
Ms. Cole does a wonderful job illustrating the past Kale travels to. Every time he went, I could picture the battlefields vividly. It's never explained why Kale has this special ability but I would never want to be in his position. Though I'd love to get a background, I also accept that some things just are. Realizing Kale's traumas had a purpose brought out exactly how meaningful the story is. What Kale went through mattered.
There was pain in this story but there was also healing. A lot of good came out of the bad. If magical realism is your cup of tea then I'd suggest picking up a copy of Cold Summer. The character growth, sensible romance and dramatic worlds are all worth investing your time in.
The story carried a calm atmosphere but with a storyline that increased in intensity. I loved the surreal quality to the book. Kale's ability is too strange yet it's real and dictates his whole life. I felt so hopeless for him as he again and again got dragged into another timeline. It was hard watching Kale live his other life knowing what was waiting for him at the end. His real life suffered harshly because of it but when Harper reenters his life, he gets a chance to pull free.
Harper was a constant in Kale's ever-changing life. She motivated him to want to work things out with his dad, to want to try to control his ability. Harper had her own headaches but it never stopped her from wanting to help Kale. They had mutual understanding and respect which made for a very sweet and healthy relationship. It was adorable watching their budding romance blossom.
Ms. Cole does a wonderful job illustrating the past Kale travels to. Every time he went, I could picture the battlefields vividly. It's never explained why Kale has this special ability but I would never want to be in his position. Though I'd love to get a background, I also accept that some things just are. Realizing Kale's traumas had a purpose brought out exactly how meaningful the story is. What Kale went through mattered.
There was pain in this story but there was also healing. A lot of good came out of the bad. If magical realism is your cup of tea then I'd suggest picking up a copy of Cold Summer. The character growth, sensible romance and dramatic worlds are all worth investing your time in.
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