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Love in the 80s #4
1983: Cruel Summer
"1982: Cruel Summer" is a stand-alone, new adult romance novella.
Isadora Lancaster is in hell.
She passed on a European vacation with her parents, choosing instead to spend an amazing summer with her boyfriend. But that plan changed when she walked in on him and another woman.
Now Izzy’s stuck in a town she’s avoided since high school, and has to face uncomfortable truths about her past—including the best friend that abandoned her during their senior year. The boy that broke her heart.
Before the internet…before sext messages, selfies, like buttons, and d**k picks…epic loves and broken hearts played out offline, on mixtapes that became the self-made soundtracks of a generation.
Love in the 80s: A New Adult Mix is a collection of ten contemporary romance, new adult, stand-alone novellas set in the 1980s.
The title of each love story will be a hit song from the year that the novella represents. The totally awesome authors include: Casey L. Bond, Lindy Zart, Cambria Hebert, Amber Lynn Natusch, Misty Provencher, Rebecca Yarros, Rachel Higginson, RK Ryals, Cameo Renae and Chelsea Fine.
Isadora Lancaster is in hell.
She passed on a European vacation with her parents, choosing instead to spend an amazing summer with her boyfriend. But that plan changed when she walked in on him and another woman.
Now Izzy’s stuck in a town she’s avoided since high school, and has to face uncomfortable truths about her past—including the best friend that abandoned her during their senior year. The boy that broke her heart.
Before the internet…before sext messages, selfies, like buttons, and d**k picks…epic loves and broken hearts played out offline, on mixtapes that became the self-made soundtracks of a generation.
Love in the 80s: A New Adult Mix is a collection of ten contemporary romance, new adult, stand-alone novellas set in the 1980s.
The title of each love story will be a hit song from the year that the novella represents. The totally awesome authors include: Casey L. Bond, Lindy Zart, Cambria Hebert, Amber Lynn Natusch, Misty Provencher, Rebecca Yarros, Rachel Higginson, RK Ryals, Cameo Renae and Chelsea Fine.
ebook
First published April 29, 2016
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237 people want to read
About the author
Amber Lynn Natusch
49 books1,548 followersAMBER LYNN NATUSCH is the author of the bestselling Caged series for adults. She was born and raised in Winnipeg, and is still deeply attached to her Canadian roots. She loves to dance and practice Muay Thai―but spends most of her time running a chiropractic practice with her husband, raising two young children, and attempting to write when she can lock herself in the bathroom for ten minutes of peace. Dare You to Lie is her debut YA novel with Tor Teen.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 31, 2016
:: 4.5 Pretty Little Stars
This is another GREAT addition to the Love in the 80's novella Series. This is probably my second favorite out of all five. Its fun, fast paced, has a pretty cool heroine AND little love story that is absolutely adorable. It's also a second chance romance.
This is a really cool little series of novellas that are quick and easy to read. Each story features a new set of characters in the 1980's as they navigate the difficulties of life and love. For those looking for a fun and pleasant read and want to feel all nostalgic (if you were born and/or grew up in the 80's) than this is definitely a series worth trying.
This is another GREAT addition to the Love in the 80's novella Series. This is probably my second favorite out of all five. Its fun, fast paced, has a pretty cool heroine AND little love story that is absolutely adorable. It's also a second chance romance.
This is a really cool little series of novellas that are quick and easy to read. Each story features a new set of characters in the 1980's as they navigate the difficulties of life and love. For those looking for a fun and pleasant read and want to feel all nostalgic (if you were born and/or grew up in the 80's) than this is definitely a series worth trying.
January 2, 2017
Travel back to the year of 1983 with Bananarama and their hit song "Cruel Summer" and with Amber Lynn Natusch as she brings us Book #4 in the Love in the 80's series. Isadora aka Izzy Lancaster has always felt like she never fitted anywhere in the small town where she grew up and only had one set of ties in the town - her boyfriend, Jason. Not having spent a lot of time with Jason lately, Izzy has decided to skip her family's vacation to Europe to spend it at home in Johnsonville and see Jason. However, it will become a Cruel summer for Izzy as she walks in on her boyfriend having sex with someone that isn't obviously her. Needing a distraction, her old friend Wendy offers her a job as a lifeguard. Izzy reluctantly takes the job, and to her dismay, she sees the one person she had hoped to avoid - Braxton. He was the one guy she loved and cared about, and he broke her after they had one amazing night together. One day he was there as her best friend in the world and the next he was gone out of her life. Izzy has never forgiven Braxton for hurting her, and we are about to discover that Braxton had a reason for his past actions but wants Izzy's forgiveness and hopefully a second chance at romance? Will Braxton be able to turn Izzy's Cruel Summer into a Summer of Happiness? Why not tune into your boombox and check out 1983: Cruel Summer by Amber Lynn Natusch
May 7, 2019
This was almost like two separate plots mashed together and not that well in my opinion. If the mob Father was left out then this is a cute second chance summer romance story that I enjoyed, but the other aspect was unnecessary and spoilt my overall rating.
November 22, 2019
I liked the story, and I liked the main couple - but the ending was incredibly rushed, so it left something to be desired.
July 31, 2019
https://celebrityreaders.com/2019/07/...
2.5 stars — I just didn’t connect with this one.
I couldn’t connect with either Izzy or Braxton, or their romance. I got some of the emotions and betrayals that Izzy felt, but I wasn’t a fan of having the past strung along throughout the book, told in chunks. It made it so that while I knew something bad had happened between Izzy and Braxton, because I didn’t know what it was, I didn’t trust that she didn’t overreact, or that there wasn’t a misunderstanding…which was sort of what happened. I found the conflict ended up feeling really contrived to me…I was looking for something more authentic, and less tropey I guess.
The writing style also didn’t work for me, it felt a bit flat in the end. And what I was searching for when picking this book to read was an 80s feel, and I didn’t get that AT ALL. Other than the lack of cell phones, there really wasn’t much to give me that 80s feel that I was hoping for. It ended up being very generic.
So yeah. Not for me. I finished it because it was short, and I could use it for a challenge (even if it didn’t give me the era feel I was hoping for).
2.5 stars — I just didn’t connect with this one.
I couldn’t connect with either Izzy or Braxton, or their romance. I got some of the emotions and betrayals that Izzy felt, but I wasn’t a fan of having the past strung along throughout the book, told in chunks. It made it so that while I knew something bad had happened between Izzy and Braxton, because I didn’t know what it was, I didn’t trust that she didn’t overreact, or that there wasn’t a misunderstanding…which was sort of what happened. I found the conflict ended up feeling really contrived to me…I was looking for something more authentic, and less tropey I guess.
The writing style also didn’t work for me, it felt a bit flat in the end. And what I was searching for when picking this book to read was an 80s feel, and I didn’t get that AT ALL. Other than the lack of cell phones, there really wasn’t much to give me that 80s feel that I was hoping for. It ended up being very generic.
So yeah. Not for me. I finished it because it was short, and I could use it for a challenge (even if it didn’t give me the era feel I was hoping for).
April 11, 2020
Ah, the angst of teen heartbreak, fake pregnancies, meddling fathers and cheating boyfriends. It seems these are universal, no matter the decade. Of course, things are slightly more intense for Izzy because her meddling father has this to the Mob.
This was a nice story about redemption and hard truth while finding your way on your own two feet.
This was a nice story about redemption and hard truth while finding your way on your own two feet.
December 24, 2016
I really liked Cruel Summer until that over the top ending—or last plot twist, if you will. That didn't sit well with me.
November 5, 2018
I enjoyed the first 80-85% of the book until the last plot point. It felt over the top and unnecessary.
August 6, 2016
This is a good novella. While some of the plot follows a somewhat standard design, (i.e. woman scorned, stuck in town she hates, forced to get a job, runs into first love), there are facts added throughout the story to make it belong solely to Natusch.
I like these characters. Braxton and Izzy, were cruelly manipulated apart many years ago. The circumstances surrounding that manipulation are creative, imaginative, and maniacal. The truth, once revealed, fractures everything Izzy thinks she knows about her past.
Braxton is a broken man without access to the one girl he will always love. He has a secret that, once told, he hopes will draw her to him once again. Izzy (also broken) has a terrible secret, one that she hopes will never come out. She should know better in a town this size. You know what they say about people in glass houses.
The interaction between the characters is enlightening. The ending is exciting and revealing. I think that the second half of the book is more interesting than the first, and it definitely helps the rating. 3 1/4 stars
I like these characters. Braxton and Izzy, were cruelly manipulated apart many years ago. The circumstances surrounding that manipulation are creative, imaginative, and maniacal. The truth, once revealed, fractures everything Izzy thinks she knows about her past.
Braxton is a broken man without access to the one girl he will always love. He has a secret that, once told, he hopes will draw her to him once again. Izzy (also broken) has a terrible secret, one that she hopes will never come out. She should know better in a town this size. You know what they say about people in glass houses.
The interaction between the characters is enlightening. The ending is exciting and revealing. I think that the second half of the book is more interesting than the first, and it definitely helps the rating. 3 1/4 stars
April 30, 2016
4.5 stars.
I grew up in the '80s , and loved the references to that time – cassette tapes, VHS etc. This a quick read that includes everything you'd expect from this writer (sass, swearing, great characters) and more.
The story is told from college student Izzy's point of view, as she heads back for the summer to the small town she fled straight after high school. I enjoyed the characters, especially getting to know Izzy and Braxton.
This is a standalone, with no cliffhanger and the perfect book for a relaxing Sunday afternoon read.
I grew up in the '80s , and loved the references to that time – cassette tapes, VHS etc. This a quick read that includes everything you'd expect from this writer (sass, swearing, great characters) and more.
The story is told from college student Izzy's point of view, as she heads back for the summer to the small town she fled straight after high school. I enjoyed the characters, especially getting to know Izzy and Braxton.
This is a standalone, with no cliffhanger and the perfect book for a relaxing Sunday afternoon read.
May 20, 2016
Cruel summer is part of a series of standalone novellas from the 80s. Featuring Izzy Lancaster and Braxton Bryant (major swoon) in a summer off from college, in a small town trying to rekindle a broken friendship.
Even though this is a short read I loved the way the story doesn't have the hiccups that all the other stories do. I love how everything was to the point... Without adding the drama and the suspense all of the other romantic stories have and all those really sick twists that break the perfect couple apart. This books is everything!!
Love it
Even though this is a short read I loved the way the story doesn't have the hiccups that all the other stories do. I love how everything was to the point... Without adding the drama and the suspense all of the other romantic stories have and all those really sick twists that break the perfect couple apart. This books is everything!!
Love it
May 10, 2016
I tend to save my one star ratings to books I really dislike or books that doesn't make sense. This book fits the latter category.
Anyways, her father is connected to the mob. What the hell. That came out of nowhere. Her father was also a major asshole and the ending made me disappointed.
But in this book's defense, I did like the conflict shared between the two characters. It was complicated and could not easily be undone by a simple explanation.
Anyways, her father is connected to the mob. What the hell. That came out of nowhere. Her father was also a major asshole and the ending made me disappointed.
But in this book's defense, I did like the conflict shared between the two characters. It was complicated and could not easily be undone by a simple explanation.
August 11, 2016
Left me wanting more....
Not in a good way :( I know these books are supposed to be quick reads and I realize its hard to fut everything you want into them but I felt rushed through the whole book. The storyline was good it just left me wishing for more meat on the bones of the story lol
Not in a good way :( I know these books are supposed to be quick reads and I realize its hard to fut everything you want into them but I felt rushed through the whole book. The storyline was good it just left me wishing for more meat on the bones of the story lol
September 30, 2020
review coming this week (:
May 2, 2016
*3.5 stars*
I just wished this had been longer...
I just wished this had been longer...
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews