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The Summer of Naked Swim Parties
Fourteen-year-old Jamie will never forget the summer of 1976. It's the summer when she has her first boyfriend, cute surfer Flip Jenkins; it's the summer when her two best friends get serious about sex, cigarettes, and tanning; it's the summer when her parents throw, yes, naked swim parties, leaving Jamie flushed with embarrassment. And it's the summer that forever changes the way Jamie sees the things that matter#58; family, friendship, love, and herself.
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 27, 2008
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3239 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Anya Blau
11 books1,467 followersJessica Anya Blau is the author of the nationally bestselling novel The Summer of Naked Swim Parties and the critically acclaimed Drinking Closer to Home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
November 19, 2015
No literary pretensions here. Jamie is 14 and coming of age. It is the early 1970s and her parents are maybe not the most restrictive. They host naked swim parties at their home in Santa Barbara, smoke far too much weed and place almost no restrictions on their children. This is unnerving for Jamie, who has developed on schedule, unlike her older sister, who, of course, hates her for that. First kiss, first date, and more is in store for Jamie this summer. Also a more mature way of seeing people.
Jamie has a lot to cope with, friends who maybe are not the best, parents who are odd, entering new realms with a brand new sexuality, learning to see in a new, more adult manner, appreciating the best in people, as well as recognizing their flaws.
While this is hardly an action-adventure tale, it is an engaging page-turner. I zipped through it very, very quickly, and it was not because I was skipping anything. There are a few scenes that might seem raunchy, but I think the grownups can handle it. It may be formulaic, but is written in a lively, engaging manner, and is well worth the time. A view of a particular time and place in modern American experience through the eyes of a maturing 14-year-old. Who’s the grownup here?
Jamie has a lot to cope with, friends who maybe are not the best, parents who are odd, entering new realms with a brand new sexuality, learning to see in a new, more adult manner, appreciating the best in people, as well as recognizing their flaws.
While this is hardly an action-adventure tale, it is an engaging page-turner. I zipped through it very, very quickly, and it was not because I was skipping anything. There are a few scenes that might seem raunchy, but I think the grownups can handle it. It may be formulaic, but is written in a lively, engaging manner, and is well worth the time. A view of a particular time and place in modern American experience through the eyes of a maturing 14-year-old. Who’s the grownup here?
May 11, 2022
Having recently read Mary Jane and loved it, I wanted to read some of Ms Blau's earlier books. This one is from 2008 and how could I go by a book with such a title.
There are actually lots of similarities to the two books, while this one is much rougher around the edges. Jamie is 14 and this is about her summer to remember. Her parents are the hippies in this one and Jamie is feeling out of her element in her family, a bad relationship with her older sister, not particularly liking her parents marijuana use and of course their naked pool parties.
A lot happens in this summer, including her first boyfriend, having reluctant sex for the first time and generally having things happen, some not good at all. Once I got into the rhythm of the writing, I really enjoyed Jamie's fraught journey, taking place in 1976 I believe. Sometimes very funny, sometimes very traumatic, sometimes very uncomfortable, but always engaging. I liked it very much by the end after not being sure early on. Good one, I will read more of the author for sure.
There are actually lots of similarities to the two books, while this one is much rougher around the edges. Jamie is 14 and this is about her summer to remember. Her parents are the hippies in this one and Jamie is feeling out of her element in her family, a bad relationship with her older sister, not particularly liking her parents marijuana use and of course their naked pool parties.
A lot happens in this summer, including her first boyfriend, having reluctant sex for the first time and generally having things happen, some not good at all. Once I got into the rhythm of the writing, I really enjoyed Jamie's fraught journey, taking place in 1976 I believe. Sometimes very funny, sometimes very traumatic, sometimes very uncomfortable, but always engaging. I liked it very much by the end after not being sure early on. Good one, I will read more of the author for sure.
December 1, 2015
I do love coming of age stories. This one (think Freaks and Geeks) does such a great job of reminding you what it is like to be a teenager.
The story unfolds during the summertime of 1976. It is a time of change for Jaime- her relationships are all changing and she is trying to get her footing. As she changes, so do her friendships. Her parents are wealthy hippies (I imagined them like the parents in Valley Girl) who parent Jaime and her sister by benign neglect. They are definite weirdos according to teenage standards and some of the conversations between Jaime and her parents SERIOUSLY FUNNY and the best parts of the book.
A breezy, enjoyable read.
The story unfolds during the summertime of 1976. It is a time of change for Jaime- her relationships are all changing and she is trying to get her footing. As she changes, so do her friendships. Her parents are wealthy hippies (I imagined them like the parents in Valley Girl) who parent Jaime and her sister by benign neglect. They are definite weirdos according to teenage standards and some of the conversations between Jaime and her parents SERIOUSLY FUNNY and the best parts of the book.
A breezy, enjoyable read.
June 12, 2021
I have very mixed opinions on this book and honestly don't even know whether I enjoyed it or not. It being set in the mid 70s automatically allowed to content and what is perceived to be "normal" to be different. There are so many borderline sad moments and themes throughout this book that are supposedly the "average events" that come with growing older. Although there are many scenes that caused me to be uncomfortable, I feel as though this book is important. I know that it is a novel that will stick with me forever... I'm just not entirely sure if it'll stick with me for a good or bad reason.
June 23, 2008
This book is pretty vapid. I was looking for a "beach read" and was attracted to the 70's stripey styling of the cover and chapter pages. Too bad I never really enjoy beach reads. This one was easy to get through but I felt like I would have learned more about myself and the world reading a PEOPLE magazine.
May 6, 2022
The writing is excellent. The story was interesting but the "event" bothered me. I didn't enjoy it as much as Mary Jane. It just wasn't a feel-good story, which is what I'm currently needing. I feel badly rating it a 3 for that reason.
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July 26, 2021The most coming-of-age style coming-of-age book ever. I read this because i read Mary Jane by the same author and LOVED it. This was super readable, but not super great. Easy read, felt very real.
December 8, 2008
A coming of age story of a 14-year-old California girl, it is happy and sad alternately, much like teen life itself. With an older sister who is angry with the fact that young Jamie has developed early, leaving Renee far behind, and hippy parents who throw wild swim parties complete with booze, pot, and naked adults, Jamie is confused and embarrassed most of the time. She is also fearful. Earthquakes, fires, broken glass, poisonous snakes, death..., and worst of all, that the police will come while her parents are swimming naked or smoking pot. Her mother never wears a bra and cooks with only an apron and shorts with her pendulous breasts clearly seen around the apron. All these things make up what is Jamie at the start of the story.
It is summer of 1976, and Jamie’s parents and her sister are all away. When her friends come to stay with her, pizza is ordered for pick-up and from there life begins to change with the encounter of 3 college boys from the pizza parlour who come back to the house with them. Although the girls never see the boys again, they have begun their journey to ‘put away childish things’ and meet the world on a different level.
The book is well written for young adults, it carries all the angst, new discoveries, hurts, hard lessons that all must go through. Jamie’s & Renee’s conflicts are a part of that, a tragedy coupled with another couple of hard knocks sends Jamie into depression, and life changes again. It covers the many confused feelings of youth coming of age. It does have vivid descriptions of the naked swim parties (remember, these are naked parents and their friends) that are sometimes quite funny but obviously a total embarrassment to their daughters. Their mother talks sex to them in a way that makes them uncomfortable, too personal, but actual sex is probably more true to reality than sensationalized in the newly awakened young friends, and the book actually sends good messages without appearing to do so. I would recommend this book to young teens, but not to pre-teens unless they are particularly mature. It’s a quick read and somewhat different due to its decade.
It is summer of 1976, and Jamie’s parents and her sister are all away. When her friends come to stay with her, pizza is ordered for pick-up and from there life begins to change with the encounter of 3 college boys from the pizza parlour who come back to the house with them. Although the girls never see the boys again, they have begun their journey to ‘put away childish things’ and meet the world on a different level.
The book is well written for young adults, it carries all the angst, new discoveries, hurts, hard lessons that all must go through. Jamie’s & Renee’s conflicts are a part of that, a tragedy coupled with another couple of hard knocks sends Jamie into depression, and life changes again. It covers the many confused feelings of youth coming of age. It does have vivid descriptions of the naked swim parties (remember, these are naked parents and their friends) that are sometimes quite funny but obviously a total embarrassment to their daughters. Their mother talks sex to them in a way that makes them uncomfortable, too personal, but actual sex is probably more true to reality than sensationalized in the newly awakened young friends, and the book actually sends good messages without appearing to do so. I would recommend this book to young teens, but not to pre-teens unless they are particularly mature. It’s a quick read and somewhat different due to its decade.
December 20, 2022
I read this shit in the summer after reading my favorite book Mary Jane. This is the same author so I found it bound to be good. To compare and contrast, the Mary Jane was more innocent in the way that it was magical and had the youth of a day dreamer with no hints the disgustingness reality can bring. It was like reading a beautiful fever dream where nothing bad bad can happen and I loved it. Now: The Summer of Naked Swim Parties. I picked it up bc of the author but the name caught my interest as well as the interesting enough cover. This had similar qualities in the sense it was set in the 90's as well as the quality of a fever dream but it was more a dirty fever dream. It left a bad taste in my mouth you could put it. Mary Jane leaves you fresh and with a glint in your eye that the world can be good, this leaves you feeling like what the fuck. Not in the most obvious way either, just the touches of reality that are added to this book. Incorporates the anxiety of growing up as a girl with friends that aren't truly her friends, social status, the power of white families when tragedy occurs and how people can just not deal with it and gaslight others into thinking it wasn't a big deal and leave them to fend for themselves while they slowly lose their minds and feel alone at their most vulnerable state and swarming with self loathing and pity and shame and yeah it was a pretty good book. as I said, more darkness to this one.
September 6, 2011
It was the title of this book that led me to pick it up while browsing at Borders, I have to admit. But this turned out to be a great book!
Jamie's parents are far from traditional, 70s hippies hosting naked swim parties, smoking pot,and letting their 14- and 16-year-old daughters do pretty much anything they want, without curfews or limits. Their daughters are more responsible than they are, and long for a "normal" family.
This is the story of Jamie's first boyfriend, her deteroriating relationship with her best friends, and Jamie's changing place in her family. A great coming-of-age story, with lots of teenage angst, sexual awakenings, and parties on the beach.
A quick, easy read - not laugh-out-loud funny, but you'll definitely be amused by Jamie's parents and their hippie behavior.
And, if you grew up in late 70s Southern California, you'll appreciate the references to local culture. :)
Jamie's parents are far from traditional, 70s hippies hosting naked swim parties, smoking pot,and letting their 14- and 16-year-old daughters do pretty much anything they want, without curfews or limits. Their daughters are more responsible than they are, and long for a "normal" family.
This is the story of Jamie's first boyfriend, her deteroriating relationship with her best friends, and Jamie's changing place in her family. A great coming-of-age story, with lots of teenage angst, sexual awakenings, and parties on the beach.
A quick, easy read - not laugh-out-loud funny, but you'll definitely be amused by Jamie's parents and their hippie behavior.
And, if you grew up in late 70s Southern California, you'll appreciate the references to local culture. :)
March 14, 2022
I feel like I'm going to be put on some sort of watchlist after reading this book.
(I'm going to sound like one of those stick-up-theeir-ass Christian book bloggers, but oh well....)
This book Is not YA, but contains multiple explicit sex scenes involving a 14-year-old. All of the adults in her life are nudists, so there are lots of descriptions of saggy boobs and droopy penises, being flaunted around children. I don't think "The Joy of Sex" has the word "penis" in it as much as this book.
I cannot believe the same person who wrote the lovely "Mary Jane " also wrote this book. All of the characters in "Mary Jane" were multifaceted and complex. Every character in this book has a maximum of 3 personality traits (two of which are "detestable" and "horny"). At least she got the hypocritical Christian teenagers right.
And I know the 70s were a ~different time~ but yikes on a bike. Trigger warnings for underage drug use/drinking/sex, sexual assault, death of a child.
(I'm going to sound like one of those stick-up-theeir-ass Christian book bloggers, but oh well....)
This book Is not YA, but contains multiple explicit sex scenes involving a 14-year-old. All of the adults in her life are nudists, so there are lots of descriptions of saggy boobs and droopy penises, being flaunted around children. I don't think "The Joy of Sex" has the word "penis" in it as much as this book.
I cannot believe the same person who wrote the lovely "Mary Jane " also wrote this book. All of the characters in "Mary Jane" were multifaceted and complex. Every character in this book has a maximum of 3 personality traits (two of which are "detestable" and "horny"). At least she got the hypocritical Christian teenagers right.
And I know the 70s were a ~different time~ but yikes on a bike. Trigger warnings for underage drug use/drinking/sex, sexual assault, death of a child.
November 28, 2021
I love this author, starting with Mary Jane. I’m a sucker for coming of age stories, especially with tragicomic early sexual encounters. This was quite funny but with a pinch of poignancy. An easy read with a terrific conclusion.
September 28, 2022
I love a nostalgic coming of age story set in the 1970’s. I read and LOVED Mary Jane a few months ago and wanted to read more by this author. This story felt a little reminiscent of Mary Jane, just a lot rougher circumstances, some traumatic, some uncomfortable.
November 17, 2022
Fourteen-year-old Jamie goes through a lot during this story, which takes places over the summer of 1976. I'm a sucker for any story that takes place during the 70s, my favorite decade, and that's what originally drew me to this book. It was a quick, easy read which had me laughing out loud at some points because of its ridiculousness. Admittedly, Jamie and her friends were a lot more promiscuous than I remember girls being back in 1976, but maybe my friends and I were an anomaly. Blau has a writing style that keeps the story flowing and the reader entranced, which is how I read it in just two short nights. With parents who were constantly naked (including their infamous swim parties where teens and young children attended), Jamie's two best friends who turned into nothing but backstabbing cows, a boyfriend who tossed her aside after a tragedy, and an older sister who hated her for maturing more quickly than she did, there was a lot going on in the summer of 1976. And in the end, the family surprisingly comes together to take care of their own.
I was surprised by the number of typos in this book, which included misspelled words and completely missing words. For example, Raquel Welch turned into Rachel Welch; pyjamas turned into pajamas; and clothesline was spelled clotheline.
Some of my favorite lines from the book:
"Mr. Hopkins nodded and smiled, the corners of his mouth folding into his cheeks like cake batter."
"...guilt for her sister's chaste life slipped under her skin like splinters you'd need a magnifying glass to find."
"Jamie didn't mind being ignored at the beach; she enjoyed the time in her head."
I was surprised by the number of typos in this book, which included misspelled words and completely missing words. For example, Raquel Welch turned into Rachel Welch; pyjamas turned into pajamas; and clothesline was spelled clotheline.
Some of my favorite lines from the book:
"Mr. Hopkins nodded and smiled, the corners of his mouth folding into his cheeks like cake batter."
"...guilt for her sister's chaste life slipped under her skin like splinters you'd need a magnifying glass to find."
"Jamie didn't mind being ignored at the beach; she enjoyed the time in her head."
October 11, 2025
2.5 ✨An incredibly odd read, and it really just does follow this 14 year old girl throughout the summer as her parents host naked swim parties. I probably wouldn’t recommend and it started to drag on, but I also did enjoy reading it for the most part?
July 31, 2022
Was drawn to this one based on the title after realizing it was by the same author who wrote Mary Jane, a book a read and loved earlier this year. Easy poolside read.
August 4, 2022
I really liked this author's other book Mary Jane but this one was just okay for me. A quick read though.
August 11, 2023
Easy read. Cute coming of age page turner.
August 21, 2023
3.5 Rounded Up
January 22, 2024
I loved Mary Jane by this author. This book did not grab me in the same way.
April 4, 2024
This was a very interesting book. As a teen in the early 70's I enjoyed the outlooks of the teen characters. There are some dark parts, but overall I enjoyed it.
May 5, 2024
i really liked Mary Jane, and I thought this book would be similar. it definitely wasn’t, but it’s alright in its own right.
August 31, 2023
3.5 stars
Want to read
June 27, 2022On sale today - $1.99
July 3, 2018
'The summer of naked swim parties' is definitely not something I usually read, but I liked it better than I expected. It's about the summer when 14 year-old Jamie turns into a 'young lady' while getting her first boyfriend and hanging out with her friends.
Sometimes I had to remind myself that Jamie and her friends were just 14, though. A huge difference to how I spent my summer at that age.
In general, I'd say it's pretty well written with a perfectly balanced mix of wit and, well, just non-wit regular writing. The storyline started off great as well, but took a sharp decline into boring/ meh/ etc. after a certain incident. At least, the very end got better again, so I can give the 4 stars.
Sometimes I had to remind myself that Jamie and her friends were just 14, though. A huge difference to how I spent my summer at that age.
In general, I'd say it's pretty well written with a perfectly balanced mix of wit and, well, just non-wit regular writing. The storyline started off great as well, but took a sharp decline into boring/ meh/ etc. after a certain incident. At least, the very end got better again, so I can give the 4 stars.
July 25, 2024
I really enjoyed this book until the last few pages. Just a really boring and quick ending. It almost felt rushed
October 21, 2024
beautiful coming of age story. big event later in the book was gracefully told and portrayed. loved it <3
July 6, 2009
Written by the daughter of the wonderful Sheridan Blau, The Summer of Naked Swim Parties is the kind of book I would have loved when I was 13 or 14. At times I really enjoyed it, and at other times it really made me cringe. The stupidity of teenagehood always makes me feel vaguely ill (and sometimes acutely so), and the book's 14-year-old protagonist Jamie, her friends, and her boyfriend really made me want to put the book down several times for nausea. However, I did appreciate the sisterly subplot: love 'em, hate 'em, come what may, they're there for you. And I also, perhaps not surprisingly, liked the character of Allen, Jamie's father. (I say not surprisingly because it's loosely based on Jessica Blau's father, Sheridan, who was my first teacher at TC and I really adore him.)
Reading books like this, now, puts my stomach right into knots. It brought to mind all those jumbled emotions and the stupid politics of being 14...stuck in between being a child and an adult, and not having a clue as to how to deal with it all resonates a little too clearly. Though this book has so little to do with my experience growing up it's laughable, the themes are still there. Mostly I wanted to be there to tell Jamie to snap out of her stupidity, or to help her snap out of it, at least, because there seemed to be no one willing to do that.
This idea of being able to relate to your family, or really count on them at the end of the day like the little kid you feel like you still are sometimes, as in the last scene of this book, is what really left me on a good note. Though I can't say it's my favorite, or even that I really liked it, I can say that.
Reading books like this, now, puts my stomach right into knots. It brought to mind all those jumbled emotions and the stupid politics of being 14...stuck in between being a child and an adult, and not having a clue as to how to deal with it all resonates a little too clearly. Though this book has so little to do with my experience growing up it's laughable, the themes are still there. Mostly I wanted to be there to tell Jamie to snap out of her stupidity, or to help her snap out of it, at least, because there seemed to be no one willing to do that.
This idea of being able to relate to your family, or really count on them at the end of the day like the little kid you feel like you still are sometimes, as in the last scene of this book, is what really left me on a good note. Though I can't say it's my favorite, or even that I really liked it, I can say that.
April 25, 2010
Omg, I loved loved LOVED this book. Totally, absolutely LOVED IT!!! I feel like I'm parting with a good friend now that I have read the final pages, and I'm actually a bit sad to leave her behind. :( It would be wonderful if the author some day wrote a sequel (hint hint to the author if she ever happens to read this!).
"The Summer of Naked Swim Parties" is the coming-of-age story of 14-year-old Jamie, taking place during a care-free California summer in the 70's. Jamie's parents are free spirits who smoke pot, host nude swim parties by the backyard pool, and take a less-supervision-is-more parenting approach with their two teenage daughters. Mom Betty unabashedly talks about the joys of masturbation and the size of her diaphram, leaving Jamie feeling awkward and mortified as she comes into her own sexual awakening with (perpetually horny) new boyfriend Flip. She spends her days at the beginning of the summer tanning at the beach with her two best friends, going to parties with older boys, and being dragged along on camping trips with her parents; but by the end, she learns what family is really all about, and where true loyalties really lie.
Both touching and funny, with a great sense of time and place, I'd recommend this one to all.
"The Summer of Naked Swim Parties" is the coming-of-age story of 14-year-old Jamie, taking place during a care-free California summer in the 70's. Jamie's parents are free spirits who smoke pot, host nude swim parties by the backyard pool, and take a less-supervision-is-more parenting approach with their two teenage daughters. Mom Betty unabashedly talks about the joys of masturbation and the size of her diaphram, leaving Jamie feeling awkward and mortified as she comes into her own sexual awakening with (perpetually horny) new boyfriend Flip. She spends her days at the beginning of the summer tanning at the beach with her two best friends, going to parties with older boys, and being dragged along on camping trips with her parents; but by the end, she learns what family is really all about, and where true loyalties really lie.
Both touching and funny, with a great sense of time and place, I'd recommend this one to all.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews