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When Summer Ends: A Novel
Two teenagers discover how an unexpected turn of fate can bring new love to heal old wounds in Jessica Pennington's stunning, romantic YA audiobook When Summer Ends.
Aiden Emerson is an all-star pitcher and the all-around golden boy of Riverton. Or at least he was, before he quit the team the last day of junior year without any explanation. How could he tell people he's losing his vision at seventeen?
Straight-laced Olivia thought she had life all figured out. But when her dream internship falls apart, her estranged mother comes back into her life, and her long-time boyfriend ghosts her right before summer break, she's starting to think fate has a weird sense of humor.
Each struggling to find a new direction, Aiden and Olivia decide to live summer by chance. Every fleeting adventure and stolen kiss is as fragile as a coin flip in this heartfelt journey to love and self-discovery from the author of Love Songs & Other Lies.
Aiden Emerson is an all-star pitcher and the all-around golden boy of Riverton. Or at least he was, before he quit the team the last day of junior year without any explanation. How could he tell people he's losing his vision at seventeen?
Straight-laced Olivia thought she had life all figured out. But when her dream internship falls apart, her estranged mother comes back into her life, and her long-time boyfriend ghosts her right before summer break, she's starting to think fate has a weird sense of humor.
Each struggling to find a new direction, Aiden and Olivia decide to live summer by chance. Every fleeting adventure and stolen kiss is as fragile as a coin flip in this heartfelt journey to love and self-discovery from the author of Love Songs & Other Lies.
8 pages, Audio CD
First published April 9, 2019
51 people are currently reading
6221 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Pennington
4 books389 followersJessica Pennington is no stranger to the combination of love and drama. She’s a wedding planner, after all. A writer since the age of ten—when she sought publication for her poem about a tree—Jessica likes the challenge of finding the humor in a sad situation or highlighting the awkwardness in a romantic one. She lives in a Michigan beach town suspiciously similar to the one in her novel, with her husband Josh and their son, Rory. She is the author of Love Songs & Other Lies, and When Summer Ends (April 2019). Find Jessica on twitter at @jessnpennington and IG @jessicapennington
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
March 20, 2019
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
“Why did we have to meet the summer before I move away?”
When Summer Ends is a really cute read that is going to be absolutely perfect for summer this year. This is a tale about two people learning who they are, and who they want to be, while also supporting one another, and maybe even falling for each other, too! But they also have to decide if this is just going to be a summer fling, because both of their lives are going to change drastically in three months! This was heartwarming and truly smile-inducing, and I think is really going to make an amazing beach read during the warmer temperatures!
➽ Aiden - Starting pitcher for the varsity baseball team, but his true passion is drawing. He has felt an immense amount of pressure to live up to everyone else’s baseball expectations, but after a playing accident, instead of spending the summer away at baseball camp, he is going to be working at this dad’s company, River Depot. Which becomes extremely popular with tourists ever summer.
➽ Olivia - Lives with her aunt, who just received an amazing job opportunity in Arizona, which means this could very well be the last summer in Michigan for her. Her estranged mother agrees to stay with her, while she tries to enjoy the summer working at none other than River Depot with Aiden.
And these two young adults quickly realize that they need to make the best out of these next three months of summer, because once it is over their senior years of high school will change everything.
My only real complaints are that the problems in this book really never felt like problems. They for sure felt like the set up of problems, but things always seemed to resolve quickly, and I never really felt scared about what was going to happen. And this is totally fine and valid, just not something that I completely enjoy reading. Also (and this kind of goes with what I just said), I just really didn’t love the storyline with Olivia’s mother, which was for sure such a big part of this story.
I will also say that I thought there was going to be hearing and visual disability rep in this book, which there was, but it was only temporary visual and hearing disabilities. So, I also felt a little down about that, but I didn’t have it impact my rating or anything like that. But please be warned if you are going into this also looking forward to reading about that representation.
But I loved the main characters, I loved seeing them rely on one another, I loved seeing them grow as people singularly, but also grow together, and I loved every scene with the two of them! I especially loved the Michigan setting, because there are few things more beautiful that Michigan’s lakes in the summer time, and it really made me feel like I was back home. Overall, I do recommend this one! And I can’t wait to pick up the author’s debut, Love Songs & Other Lies, very soon!
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The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
Trigger and Content Warning for abandonment, neglect, and underage drinking.
Buddy Read with Felicia, Mir, & TBR & Beyond! ❤
❤ I also read this for Contemporary-a-thon!
March 12, 2019
I received an ARC of this book for free as part of a Storygram book tour.
I give this book 4.5 stars which rounds up to 5.
When I first started this book, I just thought it would be your typical YA summer romance book. Something generic and cliched. But it ended up exceeding my expectations and being so much more.
This book was so damn cute. Aiden and Olivia had such a cute relationship. Like that is the teen summer romance that I have always wanted. They were so good together and brought out the best in each other. They complemented each other so well. And Aiden in general is just amazing. Like he’s total boyfriend goals.
I also enjoyed the writing style. It was easy and effortless and the POV changes were done very well. Because of this, reading this book was a breeze. I flew through it.
I loved that this book dealt with a teenager with vision loss. That’s something that I haven’t come across in a YA book before so it was nice to see that representation.
The only critique I have is that I wanted a little bit more closure in the epilogue. It was short and only from Aiden’s perspective. There was something in Olivia’s life that I had wanted to see how it played out.
Overall, if you’re looking for a cute YA romance to read for the summer, definitely pick up this book!
I give this book 4.5 stars which rounds up to 5.
When I first started this book, I just thought it would be your typical YA summer romance book. Something generic and cliched. But it ended up exceeding my expectations and being so much more.
This book was so damn cute. Aiden and Olivia had such a cute relationship. Like that is the teen summer romance that I have always wanted. They were so good together and brought out the best in each other. They complemented each other so well. And Aiden in general is just amazing. Like he’s total boyfriend goals.
I also enjoyed the writing style. It was easy and effortless and the POV changes were done very well. Because of this, reading this book was a breeze. I flew through it.
I loved that this book dealt with a teenager with vision loss. That’s something that I haven’t come across in a YA book before so it was nice to see that representation.
The only critique I have is that I wanted a little bit more closure in the epilogue. It was short and only from Aiden’s perspective. There was something in Olivia’s life that I had wanted to see how it played out.
Overall, if you’re looking for a cute YA romance to read for the summer, definitely pick up this book!
February 9, 2019
4 Stars!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was such a cute and sweet read! It warmed my heart this winter- with its sunshine and summer feel.
In When Summer Ends, we follow two teenagers Aiden and Olivia - who discover how an unexpected turn of fate can bring new love to heal old wounds. I really enjoyed the characters and the book as a whole was just a quick fun read. The writing was simple and flowed nicely. The story was about how when you're in high school you think your life is headed in one direction but then something happens and it makes you rethink where you are headed. Or in this case, make you wake up to realize there is more to your future than you thought there could be.
I totally recommend this one!
Thank you to netgalley for this arc. Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was such a cute and sweet read! It warmed my heart this winter- with its sunshine and summer feel.
In When Summer Ends, we follow two teenagers Aiden and Olivia - who discover how an unexpected turn of fate can bring new love to heal old wounds. I really enjoyed the characters and the book as a whole was just a quick fun read. The writing was simple and flowed nicely. The story was about how when you're in high school you think your life is headed in one direction but then something happens and it makes you rethink where you are headed. Or in this case, make you wake up to realize there is more to your future than you thought there could be.
I totally recommend this one!
Thank you to netgalley for this arc. Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 5, 2019
I loved this adorable book! The only bad thing was reading in the winter instead of summer. It made me miss the warm weather even more. I read Jessica's Love Songs & Other Lies and really enjoyed it, but I liked this one even more.
This book has two points of view. Aiden and Olivia. I liked both equally.
The book starts off with Olivia getting fitted for a bridesmaid dress for her boyfriend, Zander's, sister. Olivia and Zander started off as friends and then started dating a couple years ago. His family always wanted them together and Olivia feels like they are her family, too. She lives with her aunt because her mom took off to "find herself" and she doesn't know her dad. So Zander's normal family makes her feel normal, too. Olivia finds out that her aunt got a job in Arizona and she may have to move away. She asks Zander if she could stay at his house and he basically breaks up with her. He doesn't think a long distance relationship is possible. He leaves for his family's lake home right after this.
Aiden is the star pitcher for his school. He's only a junior, but everyone talks about him. He's Emerson on the field. He ends up getting hit in the face after pitching a bad game that ended their season. What no one knew was that Aiden is having vision problems. Not one that can be corrected by glasses or surgery. He's getting shots that will hopefully help, but he can't drive and quit the baseball team. Aiden gets a job at his family's business for the summer and wants to focus on his art.
Olivia ends up working with Aiden. She doesn't really know him well at first, but they start spending a lot of time together. He doesn't tell her about his vision and she doesn't mention the break up. They start growing closer. Aiden involves her with his art and she talks to him about her writing and her family issues. But she never tells him that she might have to move. Her mom also shows up and Olivia is trying to find a way to be around her without the resentment.
Olivia and Aiden obviously fall in love. This is a summer romance book. But they do have a lot of issues to work through to make it work. I adored this relationship. I loved that Aiden felt like Aiden instead of Emerson. I loved that Olivia realized that her relationship with Zander was just comfortable, but that she was just doing everything to please him. Zander never really went out of his way the way Aiden does.
I also have to mention a couple side characters. I would read a book featuring these two. I loved them that much. Olivia's best friend, Emma, was just fun. I loved their friendship and wish we would have seen a little more of that. Ellis is Aiden's cousin and he also works at River Depot. I adored him, too.
The setting at River Depot was perfect for summer. I loved the hikes, bonfires, and sunsets. This book had everything I like for a perfect summer read.
I gave this book 5 stars. Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, and Jessica for giving me a copy for review.
This book has two points of view. Aiden and Olivia. I liked both equally.
The book starts off with Olivia getting fitted for a bridesmaid dress for her boyfriend, Zander's, sister. Olivia and Zander started off as friends and then started dating a couple years ago. His family always wanted them together and Olivia feels like they are her family, too. She lives with her aunt because her mom took off to "find herself" and she doesn't know her dad. So Zander's normal family makes her feel normal, too. Olivia finds out that her aunt got a job in Arizona and she may have to move away. She asks Zander if she could stay at his house and he basically breaks up with her. He doesn't think a long distance relationship is possible. He leaves for his family's lake home right after this.
Aiden is the star pitcher for his school. He's only a junior, but everyone talks about him. He's Emerson on the field. He ends up getting hit in the face after pitching a bad game that ended their season. What no one knew was that Aiden is having vision problems. Not one that can be corrected by glasses or surgery. He's getting shots that will hopefully help, but he can't drive and quit the baseball team. Aiden gets a job at his family's business for the summer and wants to focus on his art.
Olivia ends up working with Aiden. She doesn't really know him well at first, but they start spending a lot of time together. He doesn't tell her about his vision and she doesn't mention the break up. They start growing closer. Aiden involves her with his art and she talks to him about her writing and her family issues. But she never tells him that she might have to move. Her mom also shows up and Olivia is trying to find a way to be around her without the resentment.
Olivia and Aiden obviously fall in love. This is a summer romance book. But they do have a lot of issues to work through to make it work. I adored this relationship. I loved that Aiden felt like Aiden instead of Emerson. I loved that Olivia realized that her relationship with Zander was just comfortable, but that she was just doing everything to please him. Zander never really went out of his way the way Aiden does.
I also have to mention a couple side characters. I would read a book featuring these two. I loved them that much. Olivia's best friend, Emma, was just fun. I loved their friendship and wish we would have seen a little more of that. Ellis is Aiden's cousin and he also works at River Depot. I adored him, too.
The setting at River Depot was perfect for summer. I loved the hikes, bonfires, and sunsets. This book had everything I like for a perfect summer read.
I gave this book 5 stars. Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, and Jessica for giving me a copy for review.
April 30, 2020
"One of the 2 best books you've ever written." - My mom
If you love summery books with lots of swoon, be sure to add my other books to your TBR!
For all of the latest news like excerpt reveals, pre-order campaigns, and inside info on my upcoming books, be sure to JOIN MY NEWSLETTER! I'm usually drowning in work, so now worries about me spamming your inbox--you can expect to get my "monthly" newsletter 2-6 times a year, and I ALWAYS include a giveaway.
If you love summery books with lots of swoon, be sure to add my other books to your TBR!
For all of the latest news like excerpt reveals, pre-order campaigns, and inside info on my upcoming books, be sure to JOIN MY NEWSLETTER! I'm usually drowning in work, so now worries about me spamming your inbox--you can expect to get my "monthly" newsletter 2-6 times a year, and I ALWAYS include a giveaway.
April 8, 2019
4 stars
I actually loved this so much more than Love Songs & Other Lies! It reminds me of Sarah Dessen.
I actually loved this so much more than Love Songs & Other Lies! It reminds me of Sarah Dessen.
June 19, 2022
2.8 stars- tried to continue the tsitp high and ended up reading a book that was a littttttle less than mediocre and overall unmemorable
March 27, 2019
I received this book from Netgalley and Tor/Forge in exchange for my honest review. This was a sweet summer romance and I enjoyed it. There was parental trouble, ex boyfriend trouble and health angst. But in the end, two people who deserved each other found love. I thought everything wrapped up very nicely
April 9, 2019
I was so delighted to be able to get an arc of When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington. I am not a full fledged YA contemporary person, I’m sorry it’s true, I sometimes find it hard to relate to the characters and story. BUUUTTTTT Jessica is an exception. I read Love Songs & Other Lies last summer and absolutely fell in love with it and with Jessica's writing.
Aiden has always played baseball but when his eyesight starts to lessen it becomes clear to him that the future he thought all written out must change. Olivia had it all figured out but when her aunt and guardian tells her they will be moving to the other side of the country and her boyfriend decides to call it quits, everything she planned out goes to pieces. For the first time in her life Olivia lets chance decide one coin flip at a time. Though Aiden and Olivia know each other from school, they actually know nothing about one another. That is until both start to work at River Depot for the summer and are paired together. As they get to know one another, they both start to see how wrong their opinion of the other was. Olivia and Aiden are just the cutest thing, I swear this relationship had me squealing like a school girl LOL. Aiden is the guy that you assume is a jock through-and-through but as we get to know him you definitely start to see that sports and joshing around with the guys isn't really what he's about. Olivia is the typical quirky girl but the way that her character is written still seemed fresh and relevant to me. Right from the start you can see that these two are just perfect for each other even if they don't know it yet.
Like in Jessica's previous book, When Summer Ends alternates between both Aiden and Olivia's point of view. I do quite enjoy this balance in YA contemporary as it gives you a deeper perspective in the relationship. It made me sometimes scream at one of them to go talk to the other or give them advice on what to do next, it's clear to say that I was way too invested in this relationship. One thing that I love about Jessica' writing is she always puts a grand gesture somewhere in her book which reminds me of 80's & 90's teen movies and the one in When Summer Ends is just the cutest. I won't tell you what happens but I'm hoping that she continues to do this since I find it very unique and now identify it with her style.
Before When Summer Ends I don't think I ever thought about going to Michigan. After reading it only thing I can think of is visiting that state, hopping in a canoe and having a bonfire on a secluded beach somewhere. If you are looking for a good summer book to bring on vacation or the beach, I really recommend that you pick this one up.
Jessica Pennington is definitely on my auto buy author list. If you are a fan of authors like Kasie West, Jenny Han and Stephanie Perkins you should check out Jessica's books. I gave it a 5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to Jessica Pennington and Tor Teen for an arc, in exchange for my honest review.
Aiden has always played baseball but when his eyesight starts to lessen it becomes clear to him that the future he thought all written out must change. Olivia had it all figured out but when her aunt and guardian tells her they will be moving to the other side of the country and her boyfriend decides to call it quits, everything she planned out goes to pieces. For the first time in her life Olivia lets chance decide one coin flip at a time. Though Aiden and Olivia know each other from school, they actually know nothing about one another. That is until both start to work at River Depot for the summer and are paired together. As they get to know one another, they both start to see how wrong their opinion of the other was. Olivia and Aiden are just the cutest thing, I swear this relationship had me squealing like a school girl LOL. Aiden is the guy that you assume is a jock through-and-through but as we get to know him you definitely start to see that sports and joshing around with the guys isn't really what he's about. Olivia is the typical quirky girl but the way that her character is written still seemed fresh and relevant to me. Right from the start you can see that these two are just perfect for each other even if they don't know it yet.
Like in Jessica's previous book, When Summer Ends alternates between both Aiden and Olivia's point of view. I do quite enjoy this balance in YA contemporary as it gives you a deeper perspective in the relationship. It made me sometimes scream at one of them to go talk to the other or give them advice on what to do next, it's clear to say that I was way too invested in this relationship. One thing that I love about Jessica' writing is she always puts a grand gesture somewhere in her book which reminds me of 80's & 90's teen movies and the one in When Summer Ends is just the cutest. I won't tell you what happens but I'm hoping that she continues to do this since I find it very unique and now identify it with her style.
Before When Summer Ends I don't think I ever thought about going to Michigan. After reading it only thing I can think of is visiting that state, hopping in a canoe and having a bonfire on a secluded beach somewhere. If you are looking for a good summer book to bring on vacation or the beach, I really recommend that you pick this one up.
Jessica Pennington is definitely on my auto buy author list. If you are a fan of authors like Kasie West, Jenny Han and Stephanie Perkins you should check out Jessica's books. I gave it a 5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to Jessica Pennington and Tor Teen for an arc, in exchange for my honest review.
June 15, 2019
A cute, summertime read. I liked the romance and the characters - though Olivia did annoy me sometimes. One thing that kind of seemed odd to me was that the story was told in alternating 1st person POV and it would sometimes change several times in one chapter. Which isn't that big of a deal, but sometimes it would only be for a couple paragraphs at a time before switching back. I just didn't really see the purpose in it. And since both voices sounded exactly the same, maybe this would have been better told in 3rd person? Anyways, it was still an enjoyable read, but the last quarter or so of the book could have been a little better for me. The ending felt really abrupt and I felt there could have been a little more detail and that's why I'm dropping my rating down to 3 stars instead of 4.
Read
January 15, 2019Mini review:
DNF
Trigger warning: Suffering injuries from a sport. Till the point I read.
I received this E-ARC via Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read the authors debut and didn’t enjoy it. Still this one sounded promising and I wanted to give it a go. Unfortunately this author isn’t for me.
I didn’t care for the characters or the story. They seemed alright. But not enough to continue reading
This is a personal thing. Still recommend.
DNF
Trigger warning: Suffering injuries from a sport. Till the point I read.
I received this E-ARC via Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read the authors debut and didn’t enjoy it. Still this one sounded promising and I wanted to give it a go. Unfortunately this author isn’t for me.
I didn’t care for the characters or the story. They seemed alright. But not enough to continue reading
This is a personal thing. Still recommend.
February 23, 2019
I absolutely loved this. Such a wonderful story of family, friendship, love, and new beginnings... with a whole lot of swoon. Jessica Pennington is officially an auto buy author for me! I can’t wait to see what she writes next! Full review to come!
April 2, 2019
Full Review on The Candid Cover
When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington is the perfect YA contemporary to kick off your spring reading. The Michigan beach town setting is the perfect backdrop for this sweet coming of age story. Also, the strong theme of family makes this book a really enjoyable read.
❀ BEACH TOWN SETTING
Jessica Pennington seems to have a knack for writing stories that feature settings that are perfect for a summer romance. The characters work at a popular tourist spot in Michigan, and it is really enjoyable to read about their boating and camping adventures. It definitely sets the stage for some romantic drama.
This coming of age story is told from the perspectives of Olivia and her boyfriend, Aiden. Olivia is a perfectly flawed character and it is quite relatable reading about her struggles. She has to make some tough choices as well as come to grips that some things in life are not within our control. I really love how much Olivia’s character grows in When Summer Ends.
❀ STRONG FAMILY THEME
Books that feature families are always my favourites. However the family theme in this story is not in the traditional sense. It is so refreshing to read about a family that is comprised of a girl and her aunt. Also, Olivia’s relationship with her mother is another interesting layer to the plot.
Fans of the YA contemporary genre will love this new novel from Jessica Pennington. When Summer Ends has the perfect setting for a summer beach romance, interesting characters, and a wonderful family theme. Definitely one to add to your beach bag this year.
When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington is the perfect YA contemporary to kick off your spring reading. The Michigan beach town setting is the perfect backdrop for this sweet coming of age story. Also, the strong theme of family makes this book a really enjoyable read.
❀ BEACH TOWN SETTING
Jessica Pennington seems to have a knack for writing stories that feature settings that are perfect for a summer romance. The characters work at a popular tourist spot in Michigan, and it is really enjoyable to read about their boating and camping adventures. It definitely sets the stage for some romantic drama.
This coming of age story is told from the perspectives of Olivia and her boyfriend, Aiden. Olivia is a perfectly flawed character and it is quite relatable reading about her struggles. She has to make some tough choices as well as come to grips that some things in life are not within our control. I really love how much Olivia’s character grows in When Summer Ends.
❀ STRONG FAMILY THEME
Books that feature families are always my favourites. However the family theme in this story is not in the traditional sense. It is so refreshing to read about a family that is comprised of a girl and her aunt. Also, Olivia’s relationship with her mother is another interesting layer to the plot.
Fans of the YA contemporary genre will love this new novel from Jessica Pennington. When Summer Ends has the perfect setting for a summer beach romance, interesting characters, and a wonderful family theme. Definitely one to add to your beach bag this year.
March 20, 2019
I'm really glad I was reading this when we had some rare sunshine because it made it feel like summer.
It was a cute romance and would make for a great summer read.
It was a cute romance and would make for a great summer read.
April 8, 2019
This went from being a summer of woe to a summer of OH for both Olivia and Aiden, and I really enjoyed having the opportunity to accompany them on this journey as they embraced their new beginnings.
• Pro: Pennington did a great job crafting these characters, because the empathy flowed instantly from me for both Aiden and Olivia. They were dealing with some big changes, and I was glad they had each other for support. I did think the stakes were a little higher for Aiden, but I also thought he was less resistant to embracing the changes than Olivia. She did come around, slowly but surely, and I was really happy with the growth she experienced.
• Pro: Aiden's art adventure was fabulous! First, we got to attend ArtPrize, but we also were treated to Aiden's grand-scale artistic endeavors, and it was all really wonderful!
• Pro: I have never been to Michigan, but Pennington definitely painted an amazing picture for me. I was sort of glad Aiden and Olivia worked outdoors, because I had a great time exploring the lake, river, and beaches with them.
• Pro: The romance was so sweet, and I was shipping these two right away. I just loved them together, and Pennington really had me feeling those first romantic stirrings right along with them. I had my fingers and toes crossed for these two, because they were such a great pairing, but facing quite a few obstacles.
• Pro: Part of Olivia's growth was with respect to her relationship with her mother. This was a complicated mother-daughter dynamic, and I liked the way Pennington let it play out.
• Pro: The ending made me really happy. Pennington knew the way to my heart, when she not only gave me a jump-ahead ending, but a good one at that.
Overall: This was a such a wonderful and enjoyable story about friendship, family, love, embracing change, and taking chances, and I adored every second of it.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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• Pro: Pennington did a great job crafting these characters, because the empathy flowed instantly from me for both Aiden and Olivia. They were dealing with some big changes, and I was glad they had each other for support. I did think the stakes were a little higher for Aiden, but I also thought he was less resistant to embracing the changes than Olivia. She did come around, slowly but surely, and I was really happy with the growth she experienced.
• Pro: Aiden's art adventure was fabulous! First, we got to attend ArtPrize, but we also were treated to Aiden's grand-scale artistic endeavors, and it was all really wonderful!
• Pro: I have never been to Michigan, but Pennington definitely painted an amazing picture for me. I was sort of glad Aiden and Olivia worked outdoors, because I had a great time exploring the lake, river, and beaches with them.
• Pro: The romance was so sweet, and I was shipping these two right away. I just loved them together, and Pennington really had me feeling those first romantic stirrings right along with them. I had my fingers and toes crossed for these two, because they were such a great pairing, but facing quite a few obstacles.
• Pro: Part of Olivia's growth was with respect to her relationship with her mother. This was a complicated mother-daughter dynamic, and I liked the way Pennington let it play out.
• Pro: The ending made me really happy. Pennington knew the way to my heart, when she not only gave me a jump-ahead ending, but a good one at that.
Overall: This was a such a wonderful and enjoyable story about friendship, family, love, embracing change, and taking chances, and I adored every second of it.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
April 4, 2019
***4 ‘Surprisingly Nice’ Stars***
This was a ‘surprisingly’ sweet, quick and ultimately fun character driven read that totally hooked me from page one and made it very hard for me to put to the side because I really wanted to see how things would end up for Aiden and Olivia, not only with their relationship, but to see who they’d become at the end of the summer.
Aiden and Olivia. It was hard not to like these two. Both are really good kids who fate, fickle biyatch that she is, has decided to toss a couple of curve balls at and now have to figure out new paths to follow which ends up leading them to each other. I thoroughly enjoyed watching as their relationship evolved throughout the story and how it helped them to gain more insight on who they wanted to be as individuals. Their bantering was all kinds of fun and sweet and I just really liked how well they flowed together throughout the story. Of course things aren’t smooth sailing for these two, from outside interference to their own decisions on how to deal with things, but, in the end, I really liked how everything worked out for them.
This is my first read by the author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was sweet, funny and quite low on angst, which was a welcome change of pace. While this is YA, it does lean towards the more mature end of the spectrum, but not so much that they had crossed the line into NA side of the coin too much. The supporting cast of characters were all well written, from the adults to the teenagers, but my favs were Ellis and Emma hands down. So, if you enjoy YA and are looking for something that isn’t super angsty, then this will be the read for you.
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
This was a ‘surprisingly’ sweet, quick and ultimately fun character driven read that totally hooked me from page one and made it very hard for me to put to the side because I really wanted to see how things would end up for Aiden and Olivia, not only with their relationship, but to see who they’d become at the end of the summer.
Aiden and Olivia. It was hard not to like these two. Both are really good kids who fate, fickle biyatch that she is, has decided to toss a couple of curve balls at and now have to figure out new paths to follow which ends up leading them to each other. I thoroughly enjoyed watching as their relationship evolved throughout the story and how it helped them to gain more insight on who they wanted to be as individuals. Their bantering was all kinds of fun and sweet and I just really liked how well they flowed together throughout the story. Of course things aren’t smooth sailing for these two, from outside interference to their own decisions on how to deal with things, but, in the end, I really liked how everything worked out for them.
This is my first read by the author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was sweet, funny and quite low on angst, which was a welcome change of pace. While this is YA, it does lean towards the more mature end of the spectrum, but not so much that they had crossed the line into NA side of the coin too much. The supporting cast of characters were all well written, from the adults to the teenagers, but my favs were Ellis and Emma hands down. So, if you enjoy YA and are looking for something that isn’t super angsty, then this will be the read for you.
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
February 21, 2019
Omg I can not wait to get this book!!!
Merged review:
Thank you so much Jessica for sending me an arc! I adored the story, it gave me all the feels. In the end I was balling my eyes out but I was also smiling from ear to ear. I really enjoy the two POV from Olivia and Aiden. This was such a fun, summer read and made me really want to go visit Michigan!
Merged review:
Thank you so much Jessica for sending me an arc! I adored the story, it gave me all the feels. In the end I was balling my eyes out but I was also smiling from ear to ear. I really enjoy the two POV from Olivia and Aiden. This was such a fun, summer read and made me really want to go visit Michigan!
February 23, 2019
Loved, Loved, Loved! This was such a sweet treat from characters to all the summer vibes.
Review to follow.
here is my review of Love Songs & Other lies - https://chapterswelove.com/2018/05/15...
Review to follow.
here is my review of Love Songs & Other lies - https://chapterswelove.com/2018/05/15...
August 27, 2020
read this and more reviews on Frayed Books:
http://frayedbooks.wordpress.com
I just realized we're in the last week of August and I still have SO MANY summer contemporary romances I want to read, cue panic mode! So I decided to pick up this title which I've been meaning to read - and I know the end of summer isn't the end of August, but that's still how it feels, even though I'm no longer in school.
Likes
This was such a cute summer contemporary YA romance book, exactly what I was looking for! This takes place over the summer between Olivia and Aiden’s junior and senior years, which is a big year for high schoolers.
Olivia’s summer isn’t starting off as planned and she needs a job, so she takes a job at the local river kayak/canoe rental place in town, always busy for the summer with tourists. Olivia often doesn’t know what she wants, so she flips a coin to let fate decide her choice. This is a theme throughout the story and I enjoyed that she let things to chance, its not something you often see. (Even if the choice was, “If it lands on heads, I decide”).
I loved Aiden’s passion for art – he never had time for art when he was on the baseball team, but since quitting, he’s using the summer to put together a portfolio to get into an advanced art class at the high school – and I relate. I love art. I always took art in high school and studied it in college, and I enjoy Aiden’s passion that when he puts himself to something, he can create some great things.
Olivia and Aiden’s relationship was very casual at first (until it became MORE than friends) but I loved the ease of their friendship from the very beginning. It always felt natural and realistic to teenagers. Their relationship grew and it was so fun watching them both change and grow as people – apart and together.
I really enjoyed their story a lot and this gave me all the warm fuzzies, just what I was looking for.
Dislikes
Olivia was not honest with Aiden from the beginning about her situation, and that bothered me – I understand why she didn’t tell him, but I kept saying, “Tell him girl, if you like him TELL HIM!!!!” She never outright lied to him, she just didn’t tell him certain details of her life.
I felt the ending of this story was very abrupt. The entire story was leading up to one thing and then the ending felt like it all happened too quickly. Its not a dealbreaker for me, but I hate when endings feel rushed. There was such a good buildup and I expected it to go one way – and it went another.
Audiobook Thoughts
I adored this as an audiobook. There were two narrators, one for Olivia’s parts and one for Aiden’s parts, and they were both perfect. I loved their voices and tones. I would highly recommend listening to this one!
I listened to this on 2.3x speed and probably could have went even faster – that’s what I love about contemporary, its easy for me to listen and read a book very quickly but still enjoy it.
Recommend?
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a cute summer contemporary read. I’m such a mood reader – and my mood right now is summer – so this fit the bill perfectly. If you’re looking for canoeing and water and summer romance – this is it.
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I just realized we're in the last week of August and I still have SO MANY summer contemporary romances I want to read, cue panic mode! So I decided to pick up this title which I've been meaning to read - and I know the end of summer isn't the end of August, but that's still how it feels, even though I'm no longer in school.
Likes
This was such a cute summer contemporary YA romance book, exactly what I was looking for! This takes place over the summer between Olivia and Aiden’s junior and senior years, which is a big year for high schoolers.
Olivia’s summer isn’t starting off as planned and she needs a job, so she takes a job at the local river kayak/canoe rental place in town, always busy for the summer with tourists. Olivia often doesn’t know what she wants, so she flips a coin to let fate decide her choice. This is a theme throughout the story and I enjoyed that she let things to chance, its not something you often see. (Even if the choice was, “If it lands on heads, I decide”).
I loved Aiden’s passion for art – he never had time for art when he was on the baseball team, but since quitting, he’s using the summer to put together a portfolio to get into an advanced art class at the high school – and I relate. I love art. I always took art in high school and studied it in college, and I enjoy Aiden’s passion that when he puts himself to something, he can create some great things.
Olivia and Aiden’s relationship was very casual at first (until it became MORE than friends) but I loved the ease of their friendship from the very beginning. It always felt natural and realistic to teenagers. Their relationship grew and it was so fun watching them both change and grow as people – apart and together.
I really enjoyed their story a lot and this gave me all the warm fuzzies, just what I was looking for.
Dislikes
Olivia was not honest with Aiden from the beginning about her situation, and that bothered me – I understand why she didn’t tell him, but I kept saying, “Tell him girl, if you like him TELL HIM!!!!” She never outright lied to him, she just didn’t tell him certain details of her life.
I felt the ending of this story was very abrupt. The entire story was leading up to one thing and then the ending felt like it all happened too quickly. Its not a dealbreaker for me, but I hate when endings feel rushed. There was such a good buildup and I expected it to go one way – and it went another.
Audiobook Thoughts
I adored this as an audiobook. There were two narrators, one for Olivia’s parts and one for Aiden’s parts, and they were both perfect. I loved their voices and tones. I would highly recommend listening to this one!
I listened to this on 2.3x speed and probably could have went even faster – that’s what I love about contemporary, its easy for me to listen and read a book very quickly but still enjoy it.
Recommend?
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a cute summer contemporary read. I’m such a mood reader – and my mood right now is summer – so this fit the bill perfectly. If you’re looking for canoeing and water and summer romance – this is it.
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April 23, 2024
cute summer romance <3
but bahahahahah i couldn’t take them seriously with a name like zander belle (he’s a boy and belle is the last name 💀)
but bahahahahah i couldn’t take them seriously with a name like zander belle (he’s a boy and belle is the last name 💀)
April 20, 2019
A cute book that has me ready for summer. I liked the premise. It was a nice, fluffy book without too much emotion or heaviness attached.
However, in the same breath, I could say there wasn't enough emotion attached. I didn't really care that much about whether Olivia moved or not, or whether she ended up with Aiden or Zander. I mean, it kept my attention and kept me turning the page, but not with an avid desperation to find out what happened.
The story is told from two perspectives, that of Olivia and that of Aiden. I really like when books do this, adn the author does a great job of keeping the voices easy to differentiate. But sometimes the jump between characters lost timing for me. Let me explain. Sometimes when the point of view went back and forth between Olivia and Aiden, it was from one moment to the next, continuing in the same scene. Other times, when the point of view changed, it would be in a completely different scene, setting or even day, but without any notice or explanation. One moment Aiden and Olivia are talking. Then the next point of view change, Olivia is with her mom or aunt or friend. I'd have to go back and read the last paragraph of the scene before to see if I missed something, but no, it just jumped. Those times were a little confusing and perhaps should have been flushed out more in editing.
But overall, the story was cute.
However, in the same breath, I could say there wasn't enough emotion attached. I didn't really care that much about whether Olivia moved or not, or whether she ended up with Aiden or Zander. I mean, it kept my attention and kept me turning the page, but not with an avid desperation to find out what happened.
The story is told from two perspectives, that of Olivia and that of Aiden. I really like when books do this, adn the author does a great job of keeping the voices easy to differentiate. But sometimes the jump between characters lost timing for me. Let me explain. Sometimes when the point of view went back and forth between Olivia and Aiden, it was from one moment to the next, continuing in the same scene. Other times, when the point of view changed, it would be in a completely different scene, setting or even day, but without any notice or explanation. One moment Aiden and Olivia are talking. Then the next point of view change, Olivia is with her mom or aunt or friend. I'd have to go back and read the last paragraph of the scene before to see if I missed something, but no, it just jumped. Those times were a little confusing and perhaps should have been flushed out more in editing.
But overall, the story was cute.
May 2, 2019
After a good beginning this book was a deception. I couldn’t even finish it properly and skimmed throught the last twenty per cent.
I really liked the premises, liked the ideas, liked what the characters were about to be. But the more and more I read, the more baffled I was. The story, if a bit slow, was interesting – or should have been. What was happening?
To be sure I was rather annoyed by the very rapid changes of point of view (not every chapter but every few pages, every paragraph sometimes even). I don’t think this to be a good option for writing romance: as the reader usually knows how the story is going to end, romance wise, it’s important to keep some tension, some mystery. If you always know what each character is thinking at every moment of the story, the result is rather flat. A bit boring and lacking in emotions.
But still the story was promising and I decided that I could carry on regardless this (in my opinion) narrative flaw.
But the more as read, the more annoyed and bored I became. I had to ponder quite a lot to understand why this story that I appreciate quite a lot at first lost me in the long run, so harshly that I couldn’t even force me to read the book to its end.
Then I suddenly realised what the problem was: at three quarter of the book I still hadn’t meet the characters. Aiden and Olivia had exactly the same voice. Each time I picked up my Kindle I couldn’t say who was speaking, even after a whole page, sometimes. And sadly I never heard a teenager voice, but only the author voice. As if I was reading her notes but not the polished final book.
That’s when I decided to stop reading and just skimmed sadly to the end of the book.
Clearly Jessica Pennington is not a writer for me…
(I thank Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)
I really liked the premises, liked the ideas, liked what the characters were about to be. But the more and more I read, the more baffled I was. The story, if a bit slow, was interesting – or should have been. What was happening?
To be sure I was rather annoyed by the very rapid changes of point of view (not every chapter but every few pages, every paragraph sometimes even). I don’t think this to be a good option for writing romance: as the reader usually knows how the story is going to end, romance wise, it’s important to keep some tension, some mystery. If you always know what each character is thinking at every moment of the story, the result is rather flat. A bit boring and lacking in emotions.
But still the story was promising and I decided that I could carry on regardless this (in my opinion) narrative flaw.
But the more as read, the more annoyed and bored I became. I had to ponder quite a lot to understand why this story that I appreciate quite a lot at first lost me in the long run, so harshly that I couldn’t even force me to read the book to its end.
Then I suddenly realised what the problem was: at three quarter of the book I still hadn’t meet the characters. Aiden and Olivia had exactly the same voice. Each time I picked up my Kindle I couldn’t say who was speaking, even after a whole page, sometimes. And sadly I never heard a teenager voice, but only the author voice. As if I was reading her notes but not the polished final book.
That’s when I decided to stop reading and just skimmed sadly to the end of the book.
Clearly Jessica Pennington is not a writer for me…
(I thank Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)
Read
August 23, 2018Such a cute summer read!
Read
January 20, 2020This summer it's time to take a chance.
Life doesn't always go the way you plan it. Aiden played baseball, until he couldn't. The thing he fears most is slowly changing everything he knows. Olivia thought summer would be glorious, but then her dream internship falls through, her estranged mother appears once more, and her boyfriend ghosts her. When the two teens meet working together at the River Depot, they decide to live the next three months by the fragility of a coin flip. Embarking on unknown, fun-filled adventures, they discover so much more about themselves, each other, and about their futures then they ever thought possible.
One summer, two teens, and infinite possibilities to live. A summer of rediscovery, redefinition, and new love.
Sporty, popular Aiden played baseball, but he knew it wouldn't lead his future in the direction he truly wanted to go. Once he left the sport for health reasons, he finally got the opportunity to consider what made him happy. He came alive after he made art a priority. Sharing his passion with those he cared for gave the teen incredible depth. Through this and the way he learned to embrace the other changes in his life made me love him all the more.
Straight-laced and determined, Olivia was overwhelmed. After everything went wrong, she decided to leave everything to chance. Seeing how she struggled to give up control, but did anyway was beautiful as it allowed her to feel free. The teen writer also learned to let go of a lot of resentment, especially towards her mother. Olivia was inspiring as she took opportunities that are out of her comfort zone and used them to further her dreams and relationships.
Assumptions are truly humongous roadblocks. Despite attending the same school, Aiden and Olivia never really got to know each other, which let them grow a boatload of preconceived notions about each other. It was adorable to watch them realize just how wrong they were. Days working at the River Depot and artistic adventures gave them time to cultivate a believably sweet relationship. Although the pair had their problems, it was a joy to see them rely on and encourage each other's passions. Aiden also helped Olivia stick to her efforts of letting fate take its course, while Olivia supported Aiden as he discovered that his penchant for art could be something more. Every scene they were in together showed off their perfect chemistry.
Ah summer. Three months of freedom and for Olivia and Aiden, a time of unexpected questions and answers. Set against the backdrop of Michigan lakes, the teens learned that not everything they once thought was true actually was, and that it was okay. Told in dual perspectives that sometimes switched to a little to frequently, Aiden and Olivia's stories came alive as they slowly intertwined. Delivering all the feelings of summer, Jessica Pennington penned a tale of young love, working through issues, self-discovery and rediscovering passions. This sweet novel passed by all to quickly and I look forward too picking up the author's other works.
Don't let the next summer end before you read this book.
Life doesn't always go the way you plan it. Aiden played baseball, until he couldn't. The thing he fears most is slowly changing everything he knows. Olivia thought summer would be glorious, but then her dream internship falls through, her estranged mother appears once more, and her boyfriend ghosts her. When the two teens meet working together at the River Depot, they decide to live the next three months by the fragility of a coin flip. Embarking on unknown, fun-filled adventures, they discover so much more about themselves, each other, and about their futures then they ever thought possible.
One summer, two teens, and infinite possibilities to live. A summer of rediscovery, redefinition, and new love.
Sporty, popular Aiden played baseball, but he knew it wouldn't lead his future in the direction he truly wanted to go. Once he left the sport for health reasons, he finally got the opportunity to consider what made him happy. He came alive after he made art a priority. Sharing his passion with those he cared for gave the teen incredible depth. Through this and the way he learned to embrace the other changes in his life made me love him all the more.
Straight-laced and determined, Olivia was overwhelmed. After everything went wrong, she decided to leave everything to chance. Seeing how she struggled to give up control, but did anyway was beautiful as it allowed her to feel free. The teen writer also learned to let go of a lot of resentment, especially towards her mother. Olivia was inspiring as she took opportunities that are out of her comfort zone and used them to further her dreams and relationships.
Assumptions are truly humongous roadblocks. Despite attending the same school, Aiden and Olivia never really got to know each other, which let them grow a boatload of preconceived notions about each other. It was adorable to watch them realize just how wrong they were. Days working at the River Depot and artistic adventures gave them time to cultivate a believably sweet relationship. Although the pair had their problems, it was a joy to see them rely on and encourage each other's passions. Aiden also helped Olivia stick to her efforts of letting fate take its course, while Olivia supported Aiden as he discovered that his penchant for art could be something more. Every scene they were in together showed off their perfect chemistry.
Ah summer. Three months of freedom and for Olivia and Aiden, a time of unexpected questions and answers. Set against the backdrop of Michigan lakes, the teens learned that not everything they once thought was true actually was, and that it was okay. Told in dual perspectives that sometimes switched to a little to frequently, Aiden and Olivia's stories came alive as they slowly intertwined. Delivering all the feelings of summer, Jessica Pennington penned a tale of young love, working through issues, self-discovery and rediscovering passions. This sweet novel passed by all to quickly and I look forward too picking up the author's other works.
Don't let the next summer end before you read this book.
February 18, 2019
"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
This is an engaging story with two adorable young people, each facing their own challenges. Aiden is just an awesome hero, not at all the stereotypical star pitcher, as the author gradually shows us. Olivia is a great heroine, too.
The slow build up of their relationship feels authentic and their HEA is well deserved.
I would have liked to have seen a more thoroughly explanation about Aiden’s vision problem; after finishing the book, I’m not even sure about the precise diagnosis.
This is an engaging story with two adorable young people, each facing their own challenges. Aiden is just an awesome hero, not at all the stereotypical star pitcher, as the author gradually shows us. Olivia is a great heroine, too.
The slow build up of their relationship feels authentic and their HEA is well deserved.
I would have liked to have seen a more thoroughly explanation about Aiden’s vision problem; after finishing the book, I’m not even sure about the precise diagnosis.
September 1, 2025
This is a super easy read and definitely good for probably the ages of 11-13. It’s a cute story just a little immature in tone but overall worth reading for a cute summer story.
May 23, 2023
Not only did this book fully give the summer vibes but it was also AMAZING
didn’t expect this to be this good may change to 4.75⭐️ later
didn’t expect this to be this good may change to 4.75⭐️ later
June 30, 2019
*I voluntarily read and reviewed and ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *
3.5 stars
This book is sweet, cute, and perfect for summer. Since heat tends to kill my brain cells, anything easy to read and understand are good summer books for me, and this one fit the bill. Unfortunately, I also never felt really invested into the book.
I did like the main characters for the most part. They are thrown into a whirlwind of change and are trying to figure out what that will mean, while also trying to figure out who they are. Add to that their building attraction to each other and there is definitely some drama. Yet, none of the drama really seemed huge or drastic because it was overcome well. There is one that I thought would be a huge issue and it annoyed me that it wasn't brought up because hiding things from someone you are in a relationship with annoys the heck out of me.
With Olivia's mom coming back into the picture too, I thought there would be some drama or more scenes about their reconciliation or... something, but it was just... there were a few interactions, but nothing I was expecting, I suppose.
I would recommend this to someone needing a beach read or something easy and not too emotional-- a cute romance and some good coming of age scenes.
3.5 stars
This book is sweet, cute, and perfect for summer. Since heat tends to kill my brain cells, anything easy to read and understand are good summer books for me, and this one fit the bill. Unfortunately, I also never felt really invested into the book.
I did like the main characters for the most part. They are thrown into a whirlwind of change and are trying to figure out what that will mean, while also trying to figure out who they are. Add to that their building attraction to each other and there is definitely some drama. Yet, none of the drama really seemed huge or drastic because it was overcome well. There is one that I thought would be a huge issue and it annoyed me that it wasn't brought up because hiding things from someone you are in a relationship with annoys the heck out of me.
With Olivia's mom coming back into the picture too, I thought there would be some drama or more scenes about their reconciliation or... something, but it was just... there were a few interactions, but nothing I was expecting, I suppose.
I would recommend this to someone needing a beach read or something easy and not too emotional-- a cute romance and some good coming of age scenes.
March 30, 2019
Reseña en español aquí
Even though I don’t usually read romance novels, the synopsis of this one immediately caught my eye for dealing with themes like parental neglect and vision loss. It also looked like the perfect book for one of those times when I want a lighter and happier read that’ll leave me with a good feeling, so as soon as that time came, I started to read it very excited. Unfortunately, When Summer Ends only accomplished half of my expectations.
Let’s start with the positive part: it’s a light novel, perfect for when you need to disconnect or get out of a reading slump. The romance between the main characters is pretty healthy in general, there’s not a lot of unnecessary drama and the scenarios described make you feel as if you were spending your summer canoeing in the lakes of Michigan. I also liked the artistic element in all its forms, from Aiden’s drawings to Liv’s stories, and the fact that they let fate decide for them by coin flips. Another small detail I appreciated was the fact that Aiden’s cousin was gay without falling into the “gay best friend” cliché. So, if you’re into novels that heavily focus in the romantic aspect, you might enjoy this story.
However, I prefer other themes aside from the romance to be explored, and here’s where my first and biggest problem with this book arises: they barely give importance to Liv and Aiden’s problems. Liv’s subplot with her mother isn’t explored at all and the “resolution” is way too easy and, in my opinion, not really believable. In fact, it could be completely erased and the story would barely change. While it’s true the story goes a bit more in depth in Aiden’s vision loss, it doesn’t give it the importance I would’ve liked either and it ends up being temporary. Another thing I was a bit disappointed by was that, despite having other interesting elements like writing or the relationship with her aunt, Liv’s story seemed to revolve only around her love life – we only know about her past relationship, her best friend and her seem to talk just about that… We’re barely told the rest, but we never get to see it, which makes Liv a pretty flat character. Had I connected more with the main characters and gotten more involved in their relationship, I would’ve given the book a higher rating, but… to be honest, they were really boring to me. I couldn’t be interested in their relationship because they weren’t interesting enough as individuals.
All in all: if you’re looking for a light summer romance with just the right amount of drama, check this out. But if you’re looking for good representation of vision loss and parental neglect, you’ll be disappointed by this.
Even though I don’t usually read romance novels, the synopsis of this one immediately caught my eye for dealing with themes like parental neglect and vision loss. It also looked like the perfect book for one of those times when I want a lighter and happier read that’ll leave me with a good feeling, so as soon as that time came, I started to read it very excited. Unfortunately, When Summer Ends only accomplished half of my expectations.
Let’s start with the positive part: it’s a light novel, perfect for when you need to disconnect or get out of a reading slump. The romance between the main characters is pretty healthy in general, there’s not a lot of unnecessary drama and the scenarios described make you feel as if you were spending your summer canoeing in the lakes of Michigan. I also liked the artistic element in all its forms, from Aiden’s drawings to Liv’s stories, and the fact that they let fate decide for them by coin flips. Another small detail I appreciated was the fact that Aiden’s cousin was gay without falling into the “gay best friend” cliché. So, if you’re into novels that heavily focus in the romantic aspect, you might enjoy this story.
However, I prefer other themes aside from the romance to be explored, and here’s where my first and biggest problem with this book arises: they barely give importance to Liv and Aiden’s problems. Liv’s subplot with her mother isn’t explored at all and the “resolution” is way too easy and, in my opinion, not really believable. In fact, it could be completely erased and the story would barely change. While it’s true the story goes a bit more in depth in Aiden’s vision loss, it doesn’t give it the importance I would’ve liked either and it ends up being temporary. Another thing I was a bit disappointed by was that, despite having other interesting elements like writing or the relationship with her aunt, Liv’s story seemed to revolve only around her love life – we only know about her past relationship, her best friend and her seem to talk just about that… We’re barely told the rest, but we never get to see it, which makes Liv a pretty flat character. Had I connected more with the main characters and gotten more involved in their relationship, I would’ve given the book a higher rating, but… to be honest, they were really boring to me. I couldn’t be interested in their relationship because they weren’t interesting enough as individuals.
All in all: if you’re looking for a light summer romance with just the right amount of drama, check this out. But if you’re looking for good representation of vision loss and parental neglect, you’ll be disappointed by this.
July 26, 2019
I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have so much love for this book I can't contain it. Honestly, I really just want to talk about how much I love this book in a million different ways, but I'm sure you would get totally tired of it by the 20th reason. Seriously though, this book was amazing. It blew me away. I read it in 2 sittings, and it was really hard for me to not just stay up all night and read it. This book had everything you need for a perfect contemporary.
Our POV's in this book are Olivia and Aiden. Olivia lives with her aunt and has the perfect boyfriend. She has been best friends with him since they were kids, and of course, was in love with him then. In high school, she finally becomes the girlfriend. Oliva feels like she has a perfect life until she finds out her Aunt is moving them away her senior year for a better job, and her "perfect" relationship falls apart. She decides to make her summer full of fun and let her coin tossing guide her.
Aiden is the all-star pitcher for his high school team. He is super popular in school and is an all-around nice guy. When he finds out he is starting to lose his vision, everything he thought he wanted to do changes. He has to quit the team but doesn't want to tell them why. The rumor mill starts, but he doesn't really care. He decides over the summer to find out who he is without baseball. But of course, he ends up working all summer with Olivia, which he thinks is going to ruin his whole summer.
Once Oliva and Aiden's story intertwines you will fall in love with these 2 so quickly if you already haven't. I pretty much fell in love with these characters from the beginning. If you are a fan of any of Kasie West's books you will most definitely love this book. Jessica, like Kasie, has a way of writing this super predictable book with so many little surprises sprinkled in. She writes characters that you can't help but love and can easily connect with them. I laughed so much in this book, but I also cried my eyes out a few times.
I highly recommend this book! There is no way you won't love it as much as I do. I cannot wait to read Jessica's other book, and I am so excited for more to come. She will definitely be on my auto-buy list!
For my spoiler part of the review check out my blog! http://readrhapsodizerepeat.com/revie...
I have so much love for this book I can't contain it. Honestly, I really just want to talk about how much I love this book in a million different ways, but I'm sure you would get totally tired of it by the 20th reason. Seriously though, this book was amazing. It blew me away. I read it in 2 sittings, and it was really hard for me to not just stay up all night and read it. This book had everything you need for a perfect contemporary.
Our POV's in this book are Olivia and Aiden. Olivia lives with her aunt and has the perfect boyfriend. She has been best friends with him since they were kids, and of course, was in love with him then. In high school, she finally becomes the girlfriend. Oliva feels like she has a perfect life until she finds out her Aunt is moving them away her senior year for a better job, and her "perfect" relationship falls apart. She decides to make her summer full of fun and let her coin tossing guide her.
Aiden is the all-star pitcher for his high school team. He is super popular in school and is an all-around nice guy. When he finds out he is starting to lose his vision, everything he thought he wanted to do changes. He has to quit the team but doesn't want to tell them why. The rumor mill starts, but he doesn't really care. He decides over the summer to find out who he is without baseball. But of course, he ends up working all summer with Olivia, which he thinks is going to ruin his whole summer.
Once Oliva and Aiden's story intertwines you will fall in love with these 2 so quickly if you already haven't. I pretty much fell in love with these characters from the beginning. If you are a fan of any of Kasie West's books you will most definitely love this book. Jessica, like Kasie, has a way of writing this super predictable book with so many little surprises sprinkled in. She writes characters that you can't help but love and can easily connect with them. I laughed so much in this book, but I also cried my eyes out a few times.
I highly recommend this book! There is no way you won't love it as much as I do. I cannot wait to read Jessica's other book, and I am so excited for more to come. She will definitely be on my auto-buy list!
For my spoiler part of the review check out my blog! http://readrhapsodizerepeat.com/revie...
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