Summerlypse

by Gerardo Delgadillo

After his crush rejects him, seventeen-year-old Colton catches a plane to Mexico, hoping to forget all about girls. But a night out at a dance club crowded with long legs in miniskirts doesn't help, especially when he meets the club's beautiful DJ, Alex.

In awe of her mixing skills, Colton finds it hard to believe Alex is deaf. As they bond, she asks him to help her win a DJ contest behind her rich, estranged father's back.

Colton's not a wimp or anything, but millionaires with armed bodyguards are not his ideal vacation buddies. The only problem—if he helps her, he may fly back home in a body bag.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Music

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Originally from San Francisco and raised in Mexico, former DJ, currently software architect by day and wordsmith whenever-is-possible, Gerardo Delgadillo writes about teens venturing into México or living in México. He has lived the life he writes about in his YA contemporary novels and loves to show México from an insider's perspective—the rich culture, mercados, tacos callejeros, futbol, and a lot more, intertwining as much Español as his editors allow him to.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summerlypse is the second book written by Gerardo Delgadillo that I've read in the last year. I knew I'd connect with his writing style and characters based on the previous one, but the over-the-top plot made this one even more endearing and welcome.

The novel is a young adult story about a 17-year-old Texan, Colton, who can't seem to get his crush to notice him. When he pushes himself to catch her attention, she drops a bomb on him about who she really likes. So, Colton backs away. His best friend, Martin, works with Colton's parents to obtain permission for a trip to Mexico to visit Martin's abuelita (grandmother). And that's where the ride of Colton's life begins. He meets a new girl. Her father will kill Colton if he doesn't do the right thing. She's deaf. She's a DJ. She needs Colton's help to win money despite her father being super rich and super difficult. There is a bevy of hilarious and touching moments that bring the hero and the heroine together, all of which are the reasons you never let your 17-year-old go away on his own.

Delgadillo, a parent himself, likes to push the envelope, and he readily admits it. But like most people realize, this is fiction, and it's supposed to make us laugh and love the characters even more. Great success from my point of view. I loved watching the relationship develop between Colton and Alex, even when she rebuffs him or her father tries to kill him. Colton is smart, and he knows when to retreat, but does he always listen? No! Did he get back on a plane to Texas? No! Instead, he rushes after her... so you gotta give the boy epic points for trying. At 17, I'd never been on a plane, so kudos to him for showing us how it could and should be done at times.

I'm not a frequent YA reader, but I have read at least 25 to 30 books of similar variety. Each has its own way of capturing the character through dialog and action. Colton makes mistakes, and he knows it. He's adorable, but not perfect. He takes the ribbing from his 10-year-old sister showing up he can be a man and be vulnerable at the same time. He talks really fast around girls, and often mis-translates Spanish to say or think the wrong thing. Gotta love him for that. What set this apart for me is that multi-cultural approach, the diversity among the characters, the non-traditional plot of how the boy or girl goes after the boy or girl, and the danger they actually face.

Delgadillo tugged at my heartstrings at several points in the story. I laughed out loud a few times, too. In the end, I really liked Colton and would want to be friends with him -- if I were a few years younger and he was a few years older. The DJ scenes, the transportation scenes, and the tender moments showed the author's passion for writing and ability to research and build a setting that readers will connect with.

I'm keen to read another of Delgadillo's works, as he always presents formidable yet touching characters whom you want to see succeed -- only after a few complex obstacles have been tossed in their path, of course. And this author knows how to do that with a fine line of reality and super-charged "oh no he didn't" moments!

[Candace Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I really liked this book! I read YA contemporary books sometimes, and most of the time I get let down. But this one was different! I thought the characters felt real and felt their age which is imoportant to me. The relationship between Colton and Alex was cute! And I mean C-U-T-E! I thought the whole Mexico setting was awesome, and you could really feel the diversity in this book. Also the mafia type stuff had my eyes glued to the pages! Also the fact that Alex couldn't hear, yet was a dj was amazing!!

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew when Colton hopped that plane for a vacation to Mexico with his best friend’s family that he would discover young love and a dangerous mission to do the right thing to help a beautiful DJ break out from under her controlling father’s thumb?

Alex had captured his eye from the moment he met her and his heart as he watched her work her magic mixing the music all while being deaf. How could he not help her win a DJ music contest to win the money to help restore her hearing? Determined to be independent of her father, she places Colton in danger as hired goons stalk their every move.

SUMMERLYPSE Gerardo Delgadillo is a quirky, rapidfire tale that takes us south of the border and into the hurricane of thoughts that fill Colton’s mind as we truly learn what it is like to be an insecure teen in a world he isn’t quite ready for. Imaginative, heart-warming and certainly a coming of age tale, Gerardo Delgadillo peppers his dialogue with two languages, allowing us to actually feel and breathe what young Colton is experiencing!

Colton’s personality is deep, his dialogue is priceless and his attitude runs the gamut from insecurity to determined with a huge dollop of bravery, whether feigned or real! I loved Alex’s strength, she was a young woman on a mission, and nothing would stop her, not even her powerful father who seemed to cow everyone he met, or maybe that was just his entourage of gun-toting goons!

A fun and uniquely chaotic read that is sure to entertain while weaving two cultures together into a tapestry of youthful adventure, young love and coming of age! Highly recommended for YA readers, probably the only readers who won't need a nap after this exciting journey!

I received this copy from Gerardo Delgadillo!

Publisher: Whole Enchilada Press (June 20, 2016)
Publication Date: June 20, 2016
Genre: YA Fiction
Print Length: 318 pages
Available from: Amazon |  Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** Note: I received ARC from the author, in exchange for an honest review. I am glad I got a chance to read this book. Many thanks to author. ***

4.5 Stars

Summerlypse was entertaining YA music themed contemporary about growing up, friendship, helping friends and love. Story revolved around Colton who was simple and nice guy whose life and his view towards family, love, and friends changed after his trip to Mexico and participation in Summerlypse.

Characters-
Colton was nice, shy, sensitive, and super clueless guy. I couldn’t believe how naïve that boy was but that’s what made him different. I like the way respected everyone’s feelings.

Martin was Mexican American, macho, lady’s man, best friend of Colton who supported him throughout the book. What I liked most about him was he was far from ego and never disrespected his friend or anyone in the book.

Alex was deaf because of accident in her childhood. She was super cool DJ of Mexico who need help of Colton for participating in Summerlypse. She was nice till the climax. I didn’t like her plan may be because she was full on revenge mode but at the end she was good.

Loved secondary characters- Martin’s mom and grandma, Colton’s family and Alex’s friend- they were all so good in the book.

What I liked-
Story was narrated from main character’s perspective and cool, teenage tone of it made it entertaining, I was smiling throughout the book because of refreshing relaxing tone. Some scenes were even funny specially the one when Colton met Alex’s father and later with DJ SLIM.

I liked Spanish in the book, two languages in the book always make book curious for me and through it I can learn another language. Narrow dangerous streets, alcohol, mafia, Culture, food, and language, all description took straight to Mexican environment.

Story was simple and sweet. I liked Alex’s story of her past and how she was in accident and lost her hearing. It was very touching and I totally understood her feeling towards her father. I also liked the way Colton’s confusion regarding who to date in the beginning and the way he started to realize his true feeling and what true love is. It was very sweet and cute.

At first on entry of Alex’s father, I thought the book will have more of gansta feel and thrilling scenes but I liked that author made that part light and entertaining and focused on the main theme of Alex’s struggle and Colton’s feeling and growing relationship between them and of course the Music and DJ contest that played important part in the book.

Twist in climax was unpredictable. I was curious to know how Colton and Alex were going to perform and whether they will win or not. After knowing what her father did will she participate or not. All the questions were answered in total different wat than I guessed. Alex plan was little surprising and I felt little bad for what happed during performance. The end was nice and I loved the way things turned out.

why not 5 stars-
Okay I agreed to martin that Colton was Drama queen. And I didn’t like he kept crying over a girl who never ever showed any feelings to him.

Overall it was fun, relaxing and refreshing, music themed story of a teenage boy. Contemporary lovers would like to read this story.

[Chesca (thecrownedpages)]

DNF @ 43%

I was pretty excited to read this because first of all it was music-themed. Second, it somehow reminded me of Colleen Hoover's Maybe Someday for featuring a deaf musician character. Well, this was quite disappointing and cringe-worthy.

I did not care about the characters even a bit. I could not connect, relate, or sympathize with them.

What's worst is the writing. I know that language is something that's alive and constantly evolving, but I just could not appreciate the author's experimental use of words. Examples of these are: totalness, invisibleness, and treasonness. All I see as I type these are red, angry underlines. I think there's so much room for improvement. Other sentences and phrases that I found greatly unappealing were as follows: "I give him a question mark face" and "and my eyes go happy with the girls’ smooth legs."

I did try my best to like this, but it did not work.

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet YA contemporary romance that has an interesting and positive Hispanic setting and characterization.

It's the end of junior year and Colton finally works up the nerve to ask out his crush, Miranda, only to learn that she's not interested. At all. He's crushed, and looking to lick his wounds, which is how he ends up on a flight to Mexico with his best friend, Martin--to stay with Abuelita for two weeks. Colton's a blonde, blue-eyed lanky kid, who catches the eye of many a senorita, but he finds a real spark with DJ Alex, cousin to Martin's girlfriend.

Alejandria isn't like the girls Colton normally finds attractive. She's thin, and petite, and dresses much like hoodie-wearing Colton, but he's drawn to her. When he finds out that she was injured in a kidnapping gone wrong, which resulted in her deafness, he's even more intrigued. Knowing that Alex's father has tons of money scares Colton, especially when Alex's bodyguards take him to meet her dad. See, Alex hates her father, his wealth, and lifestyle; she cut him out long ago, and won't even accept his money to get cochlear implant surgery. Colton can help her win the Summerlypse DJ competition, and the prize money will get Alex the surgery--no help from her detested father needed.

It's not simple. It's, like, the opposite of simple, in fact. Colton's drawn in to a world he can barely fathom, with gun-toting bodyguards, a threatening father, constant risk to reveal all his secrets, and one DJ that turns his volume to eleven. I liked Colton, though I sometimes felt as if his voice was muddled into that of a person who wasn't a native English speaker. I loved how he embraced all of this strange and wondrous Mexican experience, having botched conversations in Spanish, braving the treacherous streets on foot and by car or bus. Looking for his happiness, even if it means turning down the many texts and emails from suddenly interested Miranda. Alex is The One, he's maybe 80% sure, and he's willing to do ANYTHING for her, which was absolutely charming. I loved that he attempted to mend the fracture between Alex and her father, even as her dad's interference was a constant problem.

This is a fairly clean read, with minor language issues, and some underage alcohol use. The setting wasn't quite fleshed out enough for me, though I appreciated the wide range of locales. Mexico is a big place; I wanted to know where we actually spent our time. The Summerlypse competition was cool, and I liked how Colton threw himself in head-first, to help out a virtual stranger. Their instant connection had all the thrills of infatuation, and was very sweet to experience. Expect a bit of kissing, and nothing more. While I liked Colton's adventure a lot, I did struggle to connect to him, a bit--mostly due to his internal voice. He's almost too fast and rambling, in his brain. That said, I loved the diversity of characters, and this cool peek at a teen's eye in Mexico.

[Esther Haddie's Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for honest review.

First of all, it is refreshing to read a book where the characters go somewhere different. Mexico is definitely a fascinating place, this book brings it to life in a way. I've never been there, so it was fun to read in perspective.

The plot in general was fantastic. The way the author wrote it is clever. How Colton speaks and thinks is so real. With the "whatevering" and the "I'm like". Its different, but in a very good, cool way. I love how Alex is deaf and how Colton just wants to whisper endearments to her, knowing she won't hear them. The music aspect was awesome. I love the DJ-ing; the budding romance was so cute! And when I use the word 'cute', I literally mean 'CUTE'!

The Mexican mafia-style going on is like watching a thriller. The guns, the bodyguards; the occasion beatings. It was all thrilling and it was great to read.

I did not breeze through the book, at first. I was reading it on and off because I had other books I was reading at the same time, but once I really got into it, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The culture, the handling of the whole concept of a deaf DJ... the world needs more like this.

[Alexa Whitewolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start!!! Summerlypse was... nothing I expected, and then some! This book had me, in equal parts, laughing till I was crying AND on the edge of my seat at the unexpected turns.

Alex and Colton are SO DAMN CUTE!

But more so than any of that, I loved the VIVID detail in the writing, that brings to life the cultures and quirks of each character but without it feeling stiff or forced or.... anything!! The prose is natural, flows, and damn but Colt’s thoughts had me laughing so bad I was crying!!!

I felt like I was in high school all over again, only better. Cause I got to experience all the best of youth in this book, packed with a nice bow of extravaganza and cuteness + action. A mix I couldn’t resist!!

[J.R. Sherrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only occasionally read books from the Young Adult category, but several people encouraged me to buy a copy and I'm glad I did. This is one of those brilliant books where you just never know what's going to happen next, but the ride is totally worth it.

Colton is broken hearted when he it turns out the love of his life, Miranda, is in love with someone else. Thankfully, his good friend Martin swoops in and whisks him off to Mexico. The land is mysterious to him and he barely knows the language, but there's adventure around every corner. He soon meets Alejandra, a beautiful and talented DJ who just happens to also be deaf. The plot thickens when he discovers she is the daughter of one of Mexico's most notorious drug dealers with a gang of dangerous thugs. No pressure there!

Alejandra needs Colton to help her win the Summerlypse DJ contest and he must do so under the threat of death from the father she despises. The end is memorable and the getting there is half the fun. This is an excellent book for anyone of the teen age group, but I would just as easily recommend it to readers of all other ages.

[Holly Rylander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summerlypse comes out tomorrow on Amazon, but I managed to get a sneak peak at it this week...

After Colton's crush rejects him, he travels with his best friend to Mexico to forget about her, and everyone else of the female persuasion. But then he meets Alex, a gorgeous DJ, who also happens to be deaf. She asks Colton to help her win a DJ contest and he's willing to do anything to get closer to her. There's only one small problem... her father, and his ever-present armada of bodyguards.

I really enjoyed this YA novel. Alex is very independent - she never lets her disability get in the way of what she wants. And Colton is sweet and endearing (the story is told from his point of view). The novel does a great job weaving Mexican and American cultures together into a unique story. This was such a fun read, I hope the author will write a sequel because I would love to see more of these characters!

Highly recommend this for your summer reading list!

[KO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colton has his heart set on finally asking beautiful Miranda out on a date, but before he can show her the love note he has written, she admits to falling for someone else. With his heart broken, seventeen-year-old Colton agrees to a getaway in Mexico with his friend, Martin.

Shortly after arriving, the two friends end up in a disco where Colton meets a beautiful girl named Alejandra, better known as Alex. She is a DJ in the disco and Colton is amazed at her skills, more so when he realizes she is deaf! Alex is a wonderful addition to this story of well-drawn characters, all exceptionally realistic, but the attention settles where it should—on Colton and Alex.

Summerlypse is the name of a DJ contest, and Alex is hoping to win it, but she needs Colton’s help to do it. The plot would be good right there, but when you add Alex’s Kingpin father and his gang of thugs, the action in this story just gets better!

This is a great summer read for teens!

[Raquel Irvine · Rating 5 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for honest review

I'm not generally a fan of contemporary YA novels, but this one caught my attention from the start with Colton's unique and irresistable voice -- and I couldn't put it down. From beginning (his soul crushing encounter with his forever crush) to middle (meeting Alex, the haunted but beautiful and amazingly talented deaf DJ) to end (dealing with physical threats and injuries from Alex's overzealous boduguards while battling his growing feelings for Alex and what he feels is right) it was a rollercoaster of emotions. I wish there was more -- after being caught up in their world, I'm nursing a serious book hangover! Highly recommended read!

[Ray Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've looked forward to this book for a couple of months now, so glad to get it delivered to my kindle at midnight! (Come on, a new book release at midnight? Yes.)

What would you do to fulfill your dreams? Anything? What about if those dreams were crushed and you thought you'd never even come close to them? That's what Alex faced when she lost her hearing and her dream of becoming a DJ. But, with the help of Colton, fresh out of a relationship, she may have a chance. Great book, awesome characters, and enough badassness to fill up a whole night of page-turning. Great book, I hope there are more to come!

[Roy Jeffords · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters in Summerlypse are so well-developed that they immediately seem like old friends. Colton's voice is distinct and consistent throughout the book. He shows just the right balance of curiosity, bravado, crushing insecurities, and snarkiness. Alex is equally as sharp with a jaded and guarded personality true to the harsh realities of her life. Delgadillo gives her just the right amount of hope to allow her and Colton to live out a tight plot about summer love, music, and figuring out what life is all about.

If this is one of the first books of the season, it's going to be a good summer!

[Randi (The Artist Formerly known as Guitar Chick) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy for an honest review!
Summerlypse is a sweet story with diverse characters, and it's honestly a rush of summer fun.
The characters are all well drawn and very real, people that you wouldn't be surprised to meet in real life.
There is the occasoinal clunky line, someone who isn't a teenager getting in on the slang (i.e. yo let's watch some vids), but it never distracts for very long.
These are all characters I loved spending time with and I can definitely recommend this book.

[M.W. Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating and fast paced, Summerlypse is a fantastic, cultural roller coaster ride through the chambered emotions of the heart! The author captures the voice of youth without being overbearing, and the writing is smooth, heartfelt. Parts of this book are really funny, but other parts make you remember what is was like to be young and in love.
Highly recommended.

[Betwixt the Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

After his crush rejects him, seventeen-year-old Colton catches a plane to Mexico, hoping to forget all about girls. But a night out at a dance club crowded with long legs in miniskirts doesn't help, especially when he meets the club's beautiful DJ, Alex.

In awe of her mixing skills, Colton finds it hard to believe Alex is deaf. As they bond, she asks him to help her win a DJ contest behind her rich, estranged father's back.

Colton's not a wimp or anything, but millionaires with armed bodyguards are not his ideal vacation buddies. The only problem—if he helps her, he may fly back home in a body bag.

Rating: 3/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: entertaining, though not always believable, plot; diverse characters; insta-love to the millionth degree; the romance didn't feel completely realistic; interesting character growth; "stream-of-conscious" prose with a ton of personality/voice

Huge thank yous go out to Gerardo Delgadillo, Whole Enchilada Press Publishing, and Sara @ YA Bound Book Tours for sending me a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.

But I think she's confused, and I'm confused, and I glance back at Martin, who also looks confused. At this moment, I realize confusion, and the excitement of the unknown--of the unexpected--makes the world go on...

This book was, overall, pretty entertaining. The plot was filled with action, drama, and angst--though also, at points, some pretty unbelievable situations. There were moments I found I couldn't QUITE suspend my disbelief enough to get into the action--there were situations that, in the end, didn't make much sense save as plot devices. These were, however, few and far-between.

A large part of this read, however, focused on Colton's love life... or, rather, lack of one. It was insta-lovey. It was sort of obnoxious at some parts. It was, in the end, very unbelievable for me--I just didn't connect Colton and Alex as a couple. I didn't SEE it. I didn't FEEL it. I wasn't shipping them at all. Colton does, however, make quite the large amount of character growth. Alex, also, has a story arc and fair amount of growth. So while I wasn't shipping them as a couple (their romance seemed contrived to me, I suppose--disappointing, not realistic), I WAS rooting for them both in vastly different ways.

Then she puts her other hand on mine, and I look at her, and she smiles at me, and my heart is made of candle wax. And it's totally melting.

"Can you feel it?" Alex asks, looking at me intently.

And I know she's talking about the music, but I want to shout, "Yes, yes, I can feel you."

Instead, I just say a lame, "Yes."

The prose in this book is...unique. Unique is the best way to describe it, I think. There's a sort of "stream of conscious" feel to it that both put me into the mind/thoughts of Colton immediately...and also made bits of this read very awkward or confusing. I LOVE how much voice and personality this POV allowed the book--from page one, we knew everything going on in Colton's head. There were no surprises. Gerardo Delgadillo really dove into his character, and achieved a sense of "closeness" for his readers that I wasn't expecting going in. There are, however, some "broken" moments. Not every thought makes sense. Sometimes topics leap-frog. Sometimes, a sentence was put in such a way that I was confused, and had to go back over it three or four times to figure out what was being said.

I love how diverse this read is--and not just in the usual terms. These characters were written in such dynamic, unique ways--I could SEE each of them, they leapt to life for me during the reading, and they surprised me consistently. Colton, especially, was a delight in characterization--his personality, his general traits, all came together in an entertaining and satisfying way. The rest of the characters do not, in any way, fade into the background though--they all stood out and held their ground throughout this read, though a few were given much less emphasis than I'd have liked. Martin's grandma, for instance, was a character I'd have LOVED to see more of. I get it, though--books are only SO big, and sometimes side stories exist that cannot be given a specific focus to. Still, I was intrigued by her, and sad to only get a few small scenes with her and the rest of the crew.

My feelings for Alex are confusing 'cause people say love is the best thing ever. How come this thing I feel in my chest, in all my body, hurts. It hurts that I want to be with her.

But I can't.

Overall, this was a quirky and entertaining read, though I'm slightly disappointed with it in the end. The romance felt a bit stiff and contrived, though the plot was FULL of drama and danger. I definitely recommend this read to lovers of fast-paced contemporaries, diverse characters, and wide-arcing character growths. I had fun with this one--but now, it's on to the next!

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining summer read for YA"s! What could be more escapist fare than a story about a teen going to Mexico to recover from a broken heart when a crush rejects him, only to find a crush on the daughter of a gangster? This book is a great summer take along to the beach, park, vacation or backyard. It's a quick, fun story sure to grab and hold attention!

I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Kayla K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summerlypse was such a cute story to get me in the mood for summertime, but unfortunately, summer is still five months away! :(

I was out of physical books to read, so I turned to Netgalley to give me something cute and fun to read. Out of heaps of books, Summerlypse and its adorable cover and synopsis drew me in, immediately making me want to read more. And boy, am I glad I did!

For a brief synopsis, this book revolves around a teen boy named Colton. After experiencing quite a bit of heartbreak, he decides to join his friends to go to Mexico for summer vacation. At the club there, he meets a girl named Alex whom he instantly bonds with. She is deaf and has had a tough upbringing, so she asks Colton to help her win a mixing contest to impress her dad, who wants nothing to do with her. But is Colton really over his heartbreak, and will he have what it takes to help Alex win?

I absolutely adored Colton and his super warm heart. He was so loving and kind and always knew the right thing to do, even if he had to risk a lot to do it. I could tell that ethics were very important to him, with respect being a big one of his values. Also, he and Alex were just soooo adorable together, despite the bit of a love triangle that went on. But despite any other love interests that Colton may have had, Alex and Colton will always be one of my ships! <3

And finally, a book with both family values AND diversity! I applaud the author's ability to have successfully incorporated both, as I just love when stories include these! Alex wanted to show her cold father that she did have the ability to succeed, despite her nasty upbringing, AND despite the fact that she was deaf, and I really liked how things turned out!

All in all, Summerlypse had great characters, values, and a pretty neat premise. I know I will definitely be wanting to read more from Gerardo Delgadillo in the future! For those who are looking for a book taking place in hot Mexico with lots of awesome goodies packed into it, this book is for you- whether it is a sunny, warm day, or a snowy, freezing day!

*I received a digital ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

[Isaknee1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ebook copy of this through Netgalley. So thank you to them! I have used Netgalley twice and I really like it. You can request a copy of an already released book or sometimes you can even receive an ARC (advanced reader copy).

I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing (I did not even read the synopsis) and I am glad I didn't. Going into this I was expecting a fluffy romantic contemporary and that is how it started as. It starts with Colton writing a romantic email to his high school crush. He gets rejected and decides to go on a trip with his best friend to Mexico for the summer. I really liked that it took place mostly in another country. I have never read a contemporary book that takes place in Mexico. I have never left the USA so I am glad that it included a lot of details to show the culture.

I really liked this author's writing style. Instead of always saying "she said" or "he said" it used "she was like....". I really liked that because it seemed more relatable, but I could see how this could bother people.

I really like that this book was so diverse. We had a deaf girl, an African American DJ, and a lot of laninx people. (I'm so sorry if any of that was politically incorrect. I am not tying to be offensive to anyone).

I felt like there were a lot of unnecessary aspects in this book. I thought Miranda (Coltons crush) was more of a side thought. She was mentioned here and there but I wish she had a larger role. I think it would have been really cool if she would have came to Mexico to look for Colton. That would have been an interesting plot twist. I also thought that Sofi was an after thought. (little spoiler) When she got into her accident it was not very emotional because she was such a small side character that I did not really care about what happened to her. (Spoiler over)

I thought that the ending went by too quickly. I would have liked more parts about the Summerlypse event. That being said I still liked how the story was wrapped up. (Spoiler) I loved how she ended up getting the implants at the end! It was so sweet and emotional!

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colton likes Miranda, but she confides in him that she likes cheerleader Chloe before he has a chance to tell her how he feels.

To get away, Colton leaves town with his best friend Martin to go stay with Martin's grandma and meets Alex, a DJ who is deaf and upon meeting he mistakes for a boy, in a Mexican town.
There is a mystery around Sofi and her bodyguards as well as Alex needing a virtual stranger's help in the form of Colton.
Alex was in a horrific incident due to her dad's high powered business career, in which the bad guys killed her mum and left her deaf, she has a plan to restore her hearing with a special implant but she needs to raise the cash by winning a DJ contest first.
Colton gets taken to a secret meeting and comes face to face with Alex's dad whom forces him to help his daughter and offers a shocked Colton a gun, Car and phone on loan to enable him to help his daughter get treatment.

The book flowed really well and had some great numerous points made. I also enjoyed the Spanish words which were in the book as it made it more real to the setting being Mexico, they didn't just speak only English throughout. The relationships and emotions where truly believable and empathetic towards the situation they have found themselves in.

This book was kindly sent to me for review by the publishers.

[Sumittra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s a guy to do when the one he adores is in love with someone else? It’s the last day of Colton’s junior year, and he’s crushed! Luckily he’s got a friend like Martin to help get his mind off things. Summer in Mexico might just do the trick.

This is a charming book about young love, trying new things, exploring unfamiliar places, and learning how to navigate all of it without getting killed…sometimes literally! Colton’s character is immediately likeable and sympathetic. I ached with him when his heart got broken and cheered as he took in the Mexican culture, made new friends, and found love again. I thoroughly enjoyed Alex, a girl unwilling to be defined by her disability and independent to a fault. Summerlypse is filled with memorable characters and keeps you turning the pages. I highly recommend it.

[Marianne Spitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colton has a crush on Miranda, but Miranda has a crush on someone else. What’s a teenage boy to do to help ease the pain of a broken heart? A trip to Mexico with his best friend might be the answer.

Meeting a beautiful girl named Alex may be the answer to Colton’s broken heart if he can stay clear of her protective crime boss father.

Mr. Delgadillo writes fully detailed characters, wonderfully described the scenery of Mexico, and sets some fantastic scenes. It is written with the humor only teenagers can bring to a story.

Personally, I prefer a book with less strong language, but most teenagers speak that way, and it did bring realism to the story. While I may have enjoyed it more without the language, I didn’t feel it warranted less than 5 stars. Well done, Mr. Delgadillo.

[Melanie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burned by rejection, Colton decides to take a trip to Mexico with his best friend. There he meets a new girl, a DJ at a club, but there's more to her than meets the eye. She's the daughter of a millionaire and he is quite protective of her. Colton is thrust into a dangerous world of guns, thugs, and music. Colton wants to help her, but doing so may have a hefty price for him.

This book has a quick-paced story propelled by dialogue. It is full of humor (definitely guy humor) and deals with complicated family relationships. The Mexican setting is fairly unique in the YA genre. The elements of music mixing is definitely relatable to teens.

[Beaird Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A high school boy and his best friend take off for Mexico. A rich businessman is an overly protective father with a dark secret and a penchant for threatening murder. The story ramps up to a big DJ contest called Summerlypse that may or may not be fixed.

This is a very energetic young adult romance novel.

The author is a master of teenage dialogue—alive and snappy, the sarcasms ring true. His interspersing of Spanish and English is great! It’s written for the English reader, but most of the action takes place in Mexico and there are plenty of sights and sounds and flavors, Spanish phrases and conversations that keep it real. A very authentic, out-of-the-box YA read.

[R.J. Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I loved the cover. Once, I dived into the story, I loved the well crafted characters and unexpected and exciting twists. The friendship was my favorite thing about this book as the two main characters go to Mexico to participate in a D.J. contest. I think Alex was an amazing and likable character. She's a great example of someone who doesn't let their disabilities define them. The story is touching, fun and quirky at times. Although the plot flirts with danger, it is a true romance at heart.

[Sarah Mensinga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerardo Delgadillo tackled such a unique premise in this book (a deaf DJ) in such a well-balanced way. He also writes in such a conversational style, which is something I also found really charming and appealing.

[Andy Mulberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like me some fast-paced books. Action, danger, love, and Colton has a good sense of humor. The Mexican setting and authentic voice made this stand-out for me. Summerlypse was a great YA read!

[Melody Robinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Summerlypse is a delightful debut novel by Gerardo Delgadillo. His voice is distinct and reminiscent of the brilliant John Green. The plot is fast paced and kept me laughing the whole way through. Literally. I laughed out loud. A lot. The main character, Colton, made me care for him right from the beginning, which is the main thing I look for in a novel. Characters to care about. And Summerlypse definitely delivers. Deep emotion, high humor, romance, and epic dialogue. Five stars for sure!