A Walk in the Sun: A Poignant Young Adult Romance About Fleeting Summer Love

by Michelle Zink

In this Bridges of Madison County for teens, Michelle Zink weaves a magnetic tale about summer love that stays with you long after the seasons change.

Rose Darrow never wanted to spend her life working on her family’s farm. But when her family is rocked by an unexpected tragedy she has no choice but to put her plans for the future—and dreams of escaping her small town—on hold.

Bodhi Lowell left home as a kid and hasn’t looked back. Years of working farm jobs has given him the one thing he wants most: freedom to travel without answering to anyone. He’s already looking past his job at Darrow Farm and plans on leaving in September—until he meets Rose.

Neither Rose nor Bodhi can deny the sparks flying between them, but with the end of summer looming, they must decide if it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all....

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult Romance, Summer

311 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2016

About the author

Michelle Zink is author of the Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy, A Temptation of Angels, and This Wicked Game. Her next book, Lies I Told, releases Spring 2015.


Learn more on Michelle's blog at www.michellezink.com.

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)

“Anything can happen. Take hold of this moment. The future will take care of itself.”

This was a YA contemporary romance about a girl who had recently lost her mother.

Rose was quite a strong character, and it was admirable the way she had taken over the farm after her mother’s death.

The storyline in this was mainly about the romance, and we did get a bit of a low-key love triangle with the boy next door having feelings for Rose also. The pace in this was about right, and it was a nice easy read.

The ending to this was okay, and things seemed to work out pretty well.



6.25 out of 10

[Stacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone knows I'm picky about contemps, but I've enjoyed the last couple of Michelle's books, so I was eager to read this one.

I loved Rose and Bodhi. They're both strong, yet struggling with different types of grief. I loved the slow burn of their relationship. It was satisfying to read the delicious build up. There are some great secondary characters {I adored Rose's BFF, Lexie} and everyone felt fleshed out and there for a reason.

Of course there's some angsty times, that's to be expected in a story like this. But it's not too bad and it's not for too long and there's a glorious letter that had me swooning. I absolutely love letters in books.

Overall, it was a fantastic story with some great life lessons I wasn't expecting to get. It was exactly what I want to read at the time.

**Huge thanks to Harper Teen and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**

**Squishy hugs to Michelle for sending me the arc**

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

This isn't going to be for everyone. It was a little slow-paced, but kind of sweet, with nice details about life on a farm. But after reading a book where all the characters' actions and feelings seemed completely contrived, A Walk in the Sun presented the exact opposite: characters who felt honest and sincere.

This is definitely a grief book of sorts - Rose's mom has died, and while Rose is managing as best as she can, her father isn't. Rose should be going off to college and testing the waters of independence, but her guilt and her love for her father are keeping her on the family farm, working and keeping an eye on him.

When an attractive young farmhand shows up to help (stop smirking!) she's drawn to him. After a summer of romance, Rose will have to choose between family and loyalty vs. adventure and love.

P.S. The Goodreads blurb calls this Bridges of Madison County for teenagers. (lol, because no teenagers alive today were around in 1992 when that book came out.) While I think that comparison does this book a huge disservice, I see the parallels. I mean, there's the whole farm girl meets attractive drifter thing in both, but the woman in that book was married and Rose isn't cheating. Yes, there's another guy who clearly likes Rose, but she's a person of integrity and there's no triangle at all.

If you're in the mood for something sweet and romantic and a touch old-fashioned, give this a try!

Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin

Thanks to the publisher for providing a free advance copy of this book for me to review.

[Once · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Walk in the Sun was the perfect contemporary novel all rolled into one. Rose and Bodhi are forced together when Rose’s aunt hires Bodhi to help on their family farm. Rose is close to graduating high school but her hopeful plans for travel after graduation are put on hold after the death of her mother that has left her father in a deep depression and Rose feels responsible for taking care of the family farm. Cue Rose’s aunt hiring on Bodhi for the summer. While Rose is dealing with heavy grief, Bodhi is dealing with his own different grief. They're both reserved and standoffish towards each other for a good time but that helps make the relationship feel organic once it starts. A lot of contemporary novels rush into the romance part of the story since there’s not a lot of time to work with and Zink built a friendship for our characters first, and then their feelings bloomed into more.

This was the perfect summer contemporary read. I've read Michelle Zink’s Lies I Told series and fell for her storytelling then and couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. And with no surprise it captured me right away and I couldn't wait to hear both Rose and Bodhi’s story.

http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2016...

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first summer read and I have to say it was a great read considering I was reading it in the middle of a winter storm and thinking about the farm and love in the air. Not to mention I lost an aunt while I was reading this so it did hit home for me. I thought I would cry through it but I did cry but mostly I was rooting for Bohdi and Rose.

Rose has her life all figured out. She is going to leave her family's farm and small town and move on to bigger and better things. Only a tragedy strikes her family and she can't leave because she has to stay and help her family's farm. She knows she wants a new life but family first.

Bohdi has always lived his life on the road. As a teen he left his house and never looked back. He never liked rules so he made his own and followed his own rules. Going from farm to farm job he never stayed to long just long enough to make money and move on to the next farm. That is until he comes to the Darrow farm and meets Rose. Things change for him because he starts to have feelings for her. He knows this is a temporary job but is he willing to give that up to stay or will this be a summer romance for the both of them......

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

A Walk in the Sun is a YA contemporary romance. It is a standalone and my first book by this author.

The book is told in third person narration. There are two narrators: Rose and Bodhi.

The book is set on a farm in New York.

The story is sweet and cute. It is sort of light, although there are a few heavier issues addressed. After reading some really heavy and emotional books lately it was a nice change to read something a bit lighter.

Rose is 18 and graduating from high school. Her mom has recently died. Her dad has checked out emotionally. Her family owns the farm where she lives.

The other narrator is 19 year old Bodhi. He is hired by Rose's aunt to work on the farm.

Even though the characters have problems I just found that their friendship and the rest of the story just has a light feeling to it.

The book was an enjoyable read. Both Rose and Bodhi were very interesting characters. Rose was basically forced to handle a lot after her mom died. I found her to be very strong.

Bodhi did not have a very good childhood, yet he was well mannered and a hard worker. I really enjoyed both of them.

There were also a bunch of very fascinating supporting characters. Maggie (the neighbor). Lexie (Rose's best friend). Rose's aunt. Will (Rose's friend).

Overall, it was a nice story. The setting was quite different from most books I read. I liked seeing how a farm was run and learning about various aspects (particularly the farm animals). The ending was okay. But I guess I wanted a bit more, maybe an epilogue. It felt a bit rushed. But a charming read!



Thanks to edelweiss and HarperTeen for allowing me to read this book.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

[Molly Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story…


Recommend anyone wanting to get into rural romances, cowboy/cowgirl books, farm stories.
It was a sweet/ simple book with a good storyline.
I’d recommend for 13+ as it was a pretty low tuned.

[Christina (Confessions of a Book Addict) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rose just graduated high school and lives on her family's farm. Instead of traveling this summer or going off to college, she is staying put in order to help her family run the farm. This is especially important since things haven't been going smoothly since her mother died. Her father really hasn't bounced back and taken over the responsibilities, so it's up to Rose to hold things together. But the fact of the matter is, she is still grieving over the loss of her mother. Then a mysterious stranger comes to the farm to help out for the summer. His name is Bodhi and he is a quintessential cowboy who also has secrets of his own. There's an undeniable attraction between Bodhi and Rose, but he has plans to leave in September. What will become of their summer romance? Michelle Zink's A Walk in the Sun is a sweet romance that is perfect for an indulgent day at the beach.

Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...

[Elaina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars
This book was alright..not my favorite, but it was okay :)

[Halle Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars 🌟

[Harleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.75

[Karla Mae (Reads and Thoughts) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*ARC kindly provided by Harper Teen thru Edelweiss for review*

New York was always known as the concrete jungle. A city full of buildings, graffiti’s and subways that’s why I’m so surprised that A Walk In The Sun was set in a country-side -  specifically a ranch -  in New York. Surprising right?

Told in alternating point of view, A Walk In The Sun is not your simple summer love story. The story has its own share of tragedy and heartbreak.

Before everything happened, Rose Darrow had a life outside Milford.
She will finish High School and get off her family’s farm to get to College. But a tragedy puts her dreams on hold and she’s suddenly managing her family farm. She’s all alone on the responsibility except for the help of her aunt. Managing a farm was a huge responsibility but she did not hesitate to take care of it while her father was still coping up with her mother’s death.
Right from the beginning, I feel sympathy with Rose at the same time I admire her strength and love not only for her dad but for their farm as well. She has a very strong and admirable character.

“Being lonely has been as natural as breathing since he’d left home at fourteen without a word to anyone.”

Bodhi Lowell is a drifter. He’s been living on his own from city to city working from one job to another ever since he left home at a young age of fourteen. He love’s to read. He may not finish High School in a normal environment but his will to learn is there.

However, my only comment is that Bodhi’s character felt a little flat. Yes, I get that he’s silent and shy but I was expecting more from him. Not a grand gesture, but a little more.

“A lot of life is about momentum. You let yourself stand still too long, you get stagnant, forget there are other places to see, other ways of thinking and doing things. And the worst part is, you start to lie to yourself. Make excuses why it’s just fine to be standing still, telling yourself you didn’t want anything different anyway.”

As the story progress, we see the growth in Rose and Bodhi’s characters. They not only learned something about each other but more about their lives ahead.

Rose learned that she needed to step-forward to reach her dreams and not just settle. She needs to live. While Bodhi learned that sometimes, relying in someone might be just what he needed.

Rose and Bodhi’s story is more than just a summer fling. There is no insta-love but a slow burning crush and attraction that will definitely makes you cheer for them.

The story was well-written and engrossing however, I wish that the overall feel of the story was changed. I don’t know how to explain this that all of you can understand but I’ll try. So, uhm, as I was reading, I feel gloomy. I imagine the ranch setting to be a gloomy one what with tragedy the tragedy that Rose’s family has experienced. But as the story progress, the gloomy aura was not removed. Yes, there are a lot of happy moments here and there but the overall aura was still gloomy and sad. I just wanted to feel the sun that is to shine on the story.

“They were all scared sometimes, but they were brave. They were living.”

But overall, I enjoyed reading this book. I liked how the story wrapped up. I loved Rose and Bodhi and I’m really keeping my fingers crossed for a Book 2? A European Adventure would be awesome to read. ;)

*For more reviews, please feel free to visit Reads and  Thoughts*

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An okay beach read kind of book. Rose was a good heroine, I liked how she was determined to save the calf. I thought the romance, though it took a while to start, seemed to move very quickly. The ending was nice, but a little unbelievable.

[Deniz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

A Walk in the Sun did touch me deeply.
A story about loss and moving on. Yet also story about love and new beginnings.
This is not a cute & fluffy, nor is it exciting and fun.
It is a slow paced story that examines first love, coming of age and dealing with loss. And also in the end the reality of fear and new beginnings. It's beautiful.

My favorite part about this is definitely the way Zink managed to actually convey these themes. And also her descriptions of the farm and the life surrounding it. It's so far removed from all the glitz and glam, all the melodramas and excitement. I felt the solitude of the location and I could vividly imagine the way it feels being there.

The plot was slow, at times a wee bit too slow for me. I kept switching between the other books I was reading, which was for said reason. But also because this isn't a light read. It's not complicated or heavy. But I felt it needed my complete attention. I read at the ocean or first thing on my balcony on sunrise. Somehow it felt appropriate to, it enhanced the beautiful setting, the slow pace and it made me appreciate the beauty of the book more.

The character building was done extremely well. In fact this it totally character driven. There are a interesting side casts. And then there are the two MCs. The story is told in third person in alternating POVs. I think I would have prefered a first person narration. This is such a personal book, I felt like the third person was keeping me at an arm's lengths. Bodhi and Rose are both interesting and alone. But also somehow wise beyond their years. I loved their love for farming but also could relate to their yearning for traveling. They seem at opposites to each other in the beginning, but slowly as they get to know each other their similarities become apparent.

The romance was ok. I loved the slow burn of it. But I am not sure how I felt about their insta-connection...Then there is Will. He felt kinda planted in, well at least the issues with him. Somehow in compare to the story, it was like Zink decided she wanted to throw in some drama. In my opinion it was superfluous- in fact at times it was a bit annoying.


It's a book for someone who is looking for something beautiful, touching and romantic.

[Princess Bookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts: This one was so sweet!!! It’s a little country novel that just makes your heart melt!

We are introduced to Rose who lives on a farm with her father. Her mother passed away shortly ago and Rose is doing her absolute best to keep the farm going on. She takes care of the day to day tasks, with the help of one of her neighbors!

Well, they decide to hire a little bit of help! Another boy comes into the picture named Bodhi! I just knew from the minute I met Bodhi I was going to like him! He had his inner demons but he was also such a sweetie. Bodhi and Rose are both dealing with a lot in life and you put them together, and WAM! A lot of chemistry but also a lot of confusion.

I loved the moments they spent together, rather it be just working on the farm or going out in town. I just loved this one. It was super cute and country!

I always felt like I was right there with them having to deal with the day to day stuff and than their own problems in their own lives. I also loved seeing how strong they both were. Things got confusing but they found a way to talk, even if it took a while.

I thought this one was cute and just what I needed, something light and fun.

Overall: I really liked this one a lot! Such a good contemporary! It did get slow in a few parts but it would speed right back up and I’d be into it again!

Cover: Adorable!! I love how they are standing there, love the colors, it’s cute!

What I’d Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
___________
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book by Michelle Zink, i feel i can really relate to this book as it is relaisitic fiction. My favorite thing about the book is that all of the relationships in the books are slowly developing as the book goes on and i liked that because it made me feel like i could relate to the book as the characters and relationships developed as the story did. overall i really liked this book and would highly recommend it if you are into to romance and real life events.

[Brittany S.]

Putting on hold 2/24/16: I read about 10% of this and I'm just not getting into it. I didn't realize this started with the death of a family member (Rose's mother) and was thinking it would be a bit lighter. I may come back to it once more reviews come out but for now, this isn't really the book I'm in the mood for.

[Nicolette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book touched me in a way that I cannot explain. I really liked it!!

[Stephanie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swooned over the romance, I loved (almost) every single character, I've adopted the Darrows as my honorary fictional family, and I positively adored the descriptions of the farm and the animals; we love an author who takes the time to include riding horses (who are also useful in rounding up the cattle) with names and personalities. Also pleased to find that dual POV is also used to incredible effect, especially as that's something you do not see a lot of in YA. I love Rose, but Bodhi is SUCH a good guy.

Want to ding it a little for the completely unnecessary quasi-love triangle (there's no reason for Will to be scowling and sulking with entitlement on the sidelines if he never, at any point in high school, attempted to declare his romantic interest in her AND she never led him to believe otherwise; how could you possibly be upset at someone assuming you understand that saying you're "like family" means "in a platonic/sibling-like way." She's not even torn between them; why can't he just be happy for her?? This entire angle could be removed from the story without affecting the plot in the slightest).

Also didn't love that they end up sleeping together.

But the thing is... they're out of high school and I kiiiinda thought their connection was strong enough that I got it (things I would not in a million years have said as an actual teenage reader or possibly at any age below 28 for $500, Alex).

So we're going to stick with 5 stars, because between the beautiful setting and the heart-feelings, this was the perfect way to kick off summer. SO happy I finally read this one.

[Brenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read "A Walk In The Sun" because I saw it at the store and realized it was about a ranch so I decided to expand the genres that I read and try a romance book. I thought the book was going to be a cheesy, typical romance novel but it was actually really good. You never knew what was going to happen and it was never boring. The characters were very relatable which made me feel like I was being interacted with in the book and also helped get me into it. When certain things happened, I would laugh or cry or smile etc. I am glad I reached out and tried a book from another genre because I loved this book so much. I would definitely reccomend this book to anyone even if they don't like the romance genre.

[Kenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book only took me about 3 hours to read but those 3 hours were so beautiful. This book showed me that happiness is possible beyond the sadness that is faced in life and that it is possible to get through rough times. I hadn't thought this book would hold the symbolic meaning of something different but with moving on from the past, its shown that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Rose was an inspirational character for this novel and the way she changed over the course of the book showed how to move on and open up. Falling in loved helped to show her that new possibilities can rise from anything.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This story was a cute contemporary romance read. I did love both the characters, Rose and Bodhi. The story was fairly slow at times to me. Also, I felt like many chapters could have been combined, especially when she wasn't going back and forth between Rose and Bodhi's "perspectives." The third person writing bugged me quite a bit, but I seemed to get used to it by the end. I wished it was in first person, I think I may have liked it a bit more. I did like the almost alternating chapters between Rose and Bodhi. It was nice.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rose Darrow is grieving after the loss of her mother. Her dad has shut himself up in his room leaving her to man the family farm. She is graduating from high school. Her aunt Marty hires a farmhand for the summer. Bodhi comes to the farm with his own hurtful past. Her friend, Will, is around too.

This romance read starts out as a slow burn but shifts quickly to a quicker pace where everything seems rushed and unsatisfying to the reader. It was cute, but I would have enjoyed it more if it was longer.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ended up being so much better than I imagined. Grief can be so difficult to portray, but this was poignant and beautiful. Plus, Bodhi's slow smile made me smile every time. I really liked watching them fall in love. I love the actual end end, but the part before the end was a little confusing as to what the problem was. Not that it didn't make sense, but I just wanted a little more...something, progression of her reasoning, maybe? But I really liked it. It was...relaxing.

[Michelle Sallay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit of a surprise. It had some substance, and it has been so long that I have read a YA book similar to this with actual substance. It is a pretty sweet romance and has really full and well rounded secondary characters. I think it has a smattering of swearing and the romance does get physical although it is not descriptive. So I personally would let an older teen daughter read this, but not a young one.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was a pretty simple story line dealing with death, grief, and love. But the way Michelle Zink writes about these things in the storyline is captivating. I legit read the whole book in one day, as I could not put it down. The character Rose is a sweet soul, and I loved her from the very beginning.

[Dakota · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this book wasn't good because, in the beginning, it was a little interesting, but then as I kept reading, it kept dragging on and on. It's really cliche and there really isn't any plot is the book. It's really boring and it is that stereotypical: country girl falls in love with country boy.

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nicely crafted romance with Bodhi's background making him all the more interesting. The farm is, at times, as much a character as are Rose and Bodhi. Very satisfying to the point where I'm interested in reading more by this author.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it wrong to say my lasting though with this read is what a putz Will was? What an ornery whine butt! Bodhi and Rose are cute together but I'm thinking the best part of their story is yet to come.