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Summer of No Regrets
Four friends
One summer
No regrets
Four friends pledge to make their summer regret-free but will it be that simple?
After their exams, sixteen-year-old friends Sasha, Hetal, Nell and Cam pledge to live a summer regret-free, taking risks however much it scares them.
As all these choices become difficult, even dangerous, they will need each other for the strength to face the future.
A diverse, feel-good story of friendship, irresistibly escapist.
One summer
No regrets
Four friends pledge to make their summer regret-free but will it be that simple?
After their exams, sixteen-year-old friends Sasha, Hetal, Nell and Cam pledge to live a summer regret-free, taking risks however much it scares them.
As all these choices become difficult, even dangerous, they will need each other for the strength to face the future.
A diverse, feel-good story of friendship, irresistibly escapist.
248 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2019
8 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
July 15, 2020
I loved this book and there’s full of summer vibes and friendships it was such a lovely read because I had fun reading this book
June 5, 2019
A nice quick summer read with a solid group of friends which lacked drama and the big blow up argument these sort of books tend to have.
I have to say, although I enjoyed all the separate storylines in this, I was expected more from their no regrets summer. I wanted more of a since you've been gone by Morgan Matson, really go for it with wild things to do, sort of a book. Instead, honestly storylines happened but nothing really happened.
I liked all of the characters however felt they were definitely exaggerated versions of personalities - the nerd (Hetal), the seemingly spoilt princess one (Sasha), the free spirit "I don't belong" (Cam) and the anxious Nell. Out of all the girls I felt that Nell came across the most realistic and I felt her anxiety really translated through to the reader.
I could tell this was a debut book as the writing felt a bit stereotypical and forced at times however I am keen to see where the author goes in the future and hopefully her future work will be longer so she has more pages to work with for a deeper story arc.
I have to say, although I enjoyed all the separate storylines in this, I was expected more from their no regrets summer. I wanted more of a since you've been gone by Morgan Matson, really go for it with wild things to do, sort of a book. Instead, honestly storylines happened but nothing really happened.
I liked all of the characters however felt they were definitely exaggerated versions of personalities - the nerd (Hetal), the seemingly spoilt princess one (Sasha), the free spirit "I don't belong" (Cam) and the anxious Nell. Out of all the girls I felt that Nell came across the most realistic and I felt her anxiety really translated through to the reader.
I could tell this was a debut book as the writing felt a bit stereotypical and forced at times however I am keen to see where the author goes in the future and hopefully her future work will be longer so she has more pages to work with for a deeper story arc.
May 16, 2019
My task this bank holiday weekend was to get through 3 books by 3 lovely authors and I couldn’t have picked a better start. Kate Mallinder’s debut novel about 4 teenagers and their post GCSE summer holidays is the perfect book for the teen girl in your life. It covers so many themes with skill and sensitivity and even though they are serious issues, the book is full of joy and hope.
The story is from 4 different points of view. So don’t let anyone tell you that multiple narratives don’t work, in Kate’s hands they simply do. 4 girls, Hetal, Sasha, Cam, and Nell (my favourite character) inspired by Hetal’s Nani, decide to have a summer where they face their fears and just do things that normally they would avoid. For Hetal, that’s leaving behind her beloved Devon and going to Science Camp. In Sasha’s case. she flies off to Geneva to spend the summer with her Dad. For Cam, she is searching for her ‘real’ family and, finally, for Nell, it’s about overcoming stifling anxiety and doing something new. Needless to say, the issues they find themselves all facing are things our teens are facing every day but not all teens have each other like these girls.
Why is Nell my favourite character? I suppose she is the one I recognise the most. Anxiety hits all of us in different ways and like most writers, mine is that of self doubt that I am good at anything. For Nell, she is constantly trying to escape a disaster that has left her an amputee and which she has never truly faced. When she was stood outside the local deli, trying to decide whether to walk in and ask for a job, I felt her sense of self worth disappear as she couldn’t do it. But there’s so much to Nell’s story, not just the anxiety but her gentle recovery and her mother’s recovery too that really makes your heart sing (or your eyes fill with tears, as mine did in the local coffee shop where I was reading!).
There is so much for any teenage girl to empathise with in here. Arguments with parents, frustrations at split families, those first tentative moments forming relationships with boys, the desire to be an adult but still need the safety and support of family. A message for all teens I think: family are trying to do their best and parents make mistakes, big ones! However, they are still there, if you let them. It’s not just the girls that grow throughout the text but the adults do too and forgiveness and kindness comes from the most unusual of places.
As for place, Kingsbridge in Devon is a mere 20 miles or so from me. There were so many places I recognised in Kate’s beautiful description but you won’t need to have been there to feel the warmth of the summer and the rain that falls as worlds fall apart. It was so good to read about girls sailing boats out of the estuary and over to Salcombe. More girls should learn to sail in my opinion (I might be biased here!).
Ultimately this is a tale of redemption and hope. I read it in a morning, as the text is so carefully woven together and you really want the girls to succeed or overcome their different challenges. Perhaps when some teen texts are so over sexualised and dismal, this is the perfect antidote. It’s full of fun, laced with a dose of reality and a fine story. Thoroughly engaging.
The story is from 4 different points of view. So don’t let anyone tell you that multiple narratives don’t work, in Kate’s hands they simply do. 4 girls, Hetal, Sasha, Cam, and Nell (my favourite character) inspired by Hetal’s Nani, decide to have a summer where they face their fears and just do things that normally they would avoid. For Hetal, that’s leaving behind her beloved Devon and going to Science Camp. In Sasha’s case. she flies off to Geneva to spend the summer with her Dad. For Cam, she is searching for her ‘real’ family and, finally, for Nell, it’s about overcoming stifling anxiety and doing something new. Needless to say, the issues they find themselves all facing are things our teens are facing every day but not all teens have each other like these girls.
Why is Nell my favourite character? I suppose she is the one I recognise the most. Anxiety hits all of us in different ways and like most writers, mine is that of self doubt that I am good at anything. For Nell, she is constantly trying to escape a disaster that has left her an amputee and which she has never truly faced. When she was stood outside the local deli, trying to decide whether to walk in and ask for a job, I felt her sense of self worth disappear as she couldn’t do it. But there’s so much to Nell’s story, not just the anxiety but her gentle recovery and her mother’s recovery too that really makes your heart sing (or your eyes fill with tears, as mine did in the local coffee shop where I was reading!).
There is so much for any teenage girl to empathise with in here. Arguments with parents, frustrations at split families, those first tentative moments forming relationships with boys, the desire to be an adult but still need the safety and support of family. A message for all teens I think: family are trying to do their best and parents make mistakes, big ones! However, they are still there, if you let them. It’s not just the girls that grow throughout the text but the adults do too and forgiveness and kindness comes from the most unusual of places.
As for place, Kingsbridge in Devon is a mere 20 miles or so from me. There were so many places I recognised in Kate’s beautiful description but you won’t need to have been there to feel the warmth of the summer and the rain that falls as worlds fall apart. It was so good to read about girls sailing boats out of the estuary and over to Salcombe. More girls should learn to sail in my opinion (I might be biased here!).
Ultimately this is a tale of redemption and hope. I read it in a morning, as the text is so carefully woven together and you really want the girls to succeed or overcome their different challenges. Perhaps when some teen texts are so over sexualised and dismal, this is the perfect antidote. It’s full of fun, laced with a dose of reality and a fine story. Thoroughly engaging.
October 21, 2019
Hetal, Cam, Nell and Sasha are best friends. They're all 16 and, having finished their GCSEs, are looking forward to the summer. None of them really have set-in-stone plans, until a conversation with Hetal's Nani prompts them to live their lives with no regrets... starting in the summer holidays. Sasha accepts her dad's invitation to stay in Geneva with him, and jets off the very next day. Hetal accepts an invite to a science camp in Wales where only the top 1% of grades make the cut. Nell decides to live her life without her mum smothering her, and is on the lookout for a summer job to make some money. Cam goes for a drastic new look, dying her hair bright pink and ignoring the looks she gets whilst working in her foster father's hardware store. At first, things seem to be going well for Sasha, who is loving Geneva, and Cam, who feels empowered by her new look. But things change when both experience events that make them question if living with no regrets is worth it after all. Hetal and Nell start off the other way, with Hetal nervous about being away from home, and Nell dreading a summer without the only friend on her mum's 'approved' list. Things begin to look up for the two, until something knocks them back too, and the whole group is questioning their way of living. When they all reunite, they'll have the opportunity to look back on their summers, and decide whether the good parts of giving it their all outweigh the bad parts. This Summer of No Regrets has definitely changed their lives, but is that always a good thing?
This book mentions Plymouth, UK!! MY HOME CITY!! I was so excited when I read that sentence! Once I had got over the fact that the characters lived in Devon, I settled into the story, and found myself really enjoying it! To be honest, I found that the writing style didn't really change for each person (as the book switches between four POVs) other than Hetal, who's POV was vastly different to the others. Once the girls began their own journeys, it did become easier to differentiate between them all. It was nice that the girls had problems and experiences that were relatable, and that really helped me to connect with the story. I read it in an hour; the way the story was written made it really easy to keep turning the pages; the writing was basic but enjoyable, with no complex wording (except for Hetal, but as I said earlier, her point of view is VERY different). Another thing is that I didn't think the characters were described in much detail. Cam has pink hair and a nose ring, Hetal wears 'geeky glasses' and Nell ✨Potentially spoiler but not really ✨ has one arm. I couldn't really tell you much about Sasha, other than that her friends think she's gorgeous. This was, overall, such a lighthearted and positive read that emphasises the importance of friendship, and how taking risks sometimes brings the best things with it. There were a few flaws, as I pointed out, but this was mainly a positive reading experience for me. If you're looking for a cute, easy-to-read, lighthearted book, then I would definitely recommend it!
This book mentions Plymouth, UK!! MY HOME CITY!! I was so excited when I read that sentence! Once I had got over the fact that the characters lived in Devon, I settled into the story, and found myself really enjoying it! To be honest, I found that the writing style didn't really change for each person (as the book switches between four POVs) other than Hetal, who's POV was vastly different to the others. Once the girls began their own journeys, it did become easier to differentiate between them all. It was nice that the girls had problems and experiences that were relatable, and that really helped me to connect with the story. I read it in an hour; the way the story was written made it really easy to keep turning the pages; the writing was basic but enjoyable, with no complex wording (except for Hetal, but as I said earlier, her point of view is VERY different). Another thing is that I didn't think the characters were described in much detail. Cam has pink hair and a nose ring, Hetal wears 'geeky glasses' and Nell ✨Potentially spoiler but not really ✨ has one arm. I couldn't really tell you much about Sasha, other than that her friends think she's gorgeous. This was, overall, such a lighthearted and positive read that emphasises the importance of friendship, and how taking risks sometimes brings the best things with it. There were a few flaws, as I pointed out, but this was mainly a positive reading experience for me. If you're looking for a cute, easy-to-read, lighthearted book, then I would definitely recommend it!
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May 3, 2020I picked this up as I was looking for a cute and summery contemporary, while it is not as fluffy as I was looking for this is an important read. I was not expecting this to focus on mental health as much and thought the representations was good. The book also tackles some harder topics such as foster children and finding lost family which was good to read about in YA. One of the characters is into STEM and goes to a camp and another character visits her distant Dad so all of them really quite diverse in the story. I would have liked it to be longer but I'm happy with was on the page and loved the friendship aspect. Also, it's set in Devon which is another plus for me!
July 23, 2019
I got hold of this book after an event at Kenilworth Books, on the nature of YA literature (you can find my tweets on the event here), which also evolved into a discussion about the lack of dedicated, positive literature for teens. It was felt by the panel – which included Kate, a librarian and a bookseller (the wonderful Tamsin of Kenilworth Books) – that too many books were being pitched as YA which were dark and theme-driven, potentially trying to aim at an older audience than teens. Kate’s book came up a number of times during the discussion, described as ‘up-lit’ aimed at teens, unapologetically designed to be fun. I’ve seen a number of book bloggers talking about how many adults seem to be taking over YA spaces, and books seeming to be targeting older audiences rather then the teen/YA market, so it was an interesting discussion.
As someone who reads a lot of YA, the tone was very clearly different in this. Kate has identified her audience and written specifically to them in tone, structure, and character. I thought it was a great book, and perfect for the age range she is targeting – which is why there were plot and character things I would have liked to have seen developed more, but which it makes sense weren’t explored further because it wasn’t for me.
The narrative begins with four friends at the start of the long summer holidays after their GCSEs (gosh those long holidays were amazing, I miss them), and then, in their quest to make sure they have no regrets, they end up mostly splitting into different directions. Each chapter is narrated by a different character, in a rotation of four, but for a short book this means that the storylines to me felt a little rushed before they are all pulled together for the finale and the realisations their adventures have brought. But actually, this makes sense. The storyline takes place across a maximum of two weeks, and at the age of 16 things do develop very quickly. It also makes the book a very quick read.
The book deals well with a lot of issues – disability, anxiety and PTSD, non-traditional families, girls being ‘too smart’, and foster care. The cast are a range of strong-minded girls who grow and learn as the story progresses, and realise maybe they’d been going about things the wrong way.
Had the book been about any of the individual characters alone, I think the storylines would have played out very differently. Hetal’s camp rivalry would have gone on longer, her realisation that she had misjudged people would have been longer coming, and perhaps she would have overcompensated further for being told girls shouldn’t be too smart. I did miss that we didn’t get to unpack her mother’s advice to let boys feel smarter – the book leaves no doubt that the sentiment itself is wrong, but perhaps giving Hetal a chance to address it with her mother and unpack it would have been a valuable scene. It wasn’t necessary for Hetal’s development in the story, however, I just personally would have liked to have seen these adult misconceptions addressed in the way others were.
The prime example of this being handled really well was Nell and her mother. After Nell’s accident a year before which led to the loss of her arm, her mother has become aggressively overprotective, meaning that Nell has to lie to her about what she is doing to have any freedom, but also about how she is feeling because she fears her mother’s overreaction and the loss of the little space she has left. This means she has bottled up a lot of her feelings after the accident and instead of dealing with them in a healthy way she is left with aggressive anxiety and low self-esteem which she constantly forces her way through at the expense of her mental wellbeing. This storyline was a wonderful way of looking at the different reactions to trauma and how everyone handles it in ways that are more or less successful. It was also this storyline which brings all the friends back together at the end, which is a narratively lovely touch when Nell worries that she is the baggage for her friends rather than someone they love and value.
Had Sasha’s story been the solo narrative, I think a lot more would have been made of the handsome waiter, of the tension between herself, her dad, and her dad’s new girlfriend, and perhaps even her adventures home. Possibly revealing a little much of my personal sense of justice here, I felt that Sasha was entirely in the right regarding her father’s behaviour, because she was very clear about expressing her displeasure and he seemed entirely oblivious, even after the fact. He struck me as quite selfish, and perhaps this would have been even more inflated had it been the only story. Instead, because of the shortened narrative space, it is handled in the way normal people would handle it. Nothing is catastrophised, and everyone learns to meet in the middle. Whilst for me I’d have liked to see her dad acknowledge his errors more (am I vindictive? Possibly), I think it’s perhaps more valuable for the target readership to see that not everything has to be life or death. At 16, drama is often already inflated anyway, so the message of growth and measured forgiveness is important.
The final narrative, Cam’s, looks at identity and family. As a child in foster care, who has had no stability, she is preparing for loss and isolation once she ages out of the foster system in two years. Her mother’s death from drink and drug abuse isn’t romanticised, and her grandmother’s death is presented as a sad fact, but she becomes fixated on finding the father she never knew to try and protect her future. She is convinced her foster parents are preparing to get rid of her as soon as they are able, and that made my very sad. Narratively, it was clear to me that her foster parents cared for her and were proud of her, but while the story with her biological father is resolved, the storyline with her foster parents only gets briefly addressed. I would have liked to have seen that just given a little more time and emphasis on the value of found families and non-traditional family units, alongside her reconnecting with biological family.
In general, though, this book does exactly what it says on the tin. It is light, positive, and the characters grow and develop without excess stress or trauma. I also liked that the focus wasn’t really on romance, as can often be the case in teen literature with female leads. Instead it was on pursuing the characters’ dreams and finding their own resolutions before they come together again.
Briefly:
- A light, uplifting and fun story about four friends as they grow and develop.
- Despite it being light and enjoyable, it touches on issues which can be important to teens, and gives valuable messages without labouring the point.
- I think that despite having an all-female cast, this book could easily be enjoyed by boys as well, as the focus isn’t on romance but on self-discovery and personal strength.
Rating: 3/5 – there was a lot to be impressed with in this book. My ratings are based on my personal enjoyment, however I want to emphasise that this book wasn’t written for me. I found it a light read as an adult, but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone I knew with teenage kids.
As someone who reads a lot of YA, the tone was very clearly different in this. Kate has identified her audience and written specifically to them in tone, structure, and character. I thought it was a great book, and perfect for the age range she is targeting – which is why there were plot and character things I would have liked to have seen developed more, but which it makes sense weren’t explored further because it wasn’t for me.
The narrative begins with four friends at the start of the long summer holidays after their GCSEs (gosh those long holidays were amazing, I miss them), and then, in their quest to make sure they have no regrets, they end up mostly splitting into different directions. Each chapter is narrated by a different character, in a rotation of four, but for a short book this means that the storylines to me felt a little rushed before they are all pulled together for the finale and the realisations their adventures have brought. But actually, this makes sense. The storyline takes place across a maximum of two weeks, and at the age of 16 things do develop very quickly. It also makes the book a very quick read.
The book deals well with a lot of issues – disability, anxiety and PTSD, non-traditional families, girls being ‘too smart’, and foster care. The cast are a range of strong-minded girls who grow and learn as the story progresses, and realise maybe they’d been going about things the wrong way.
Had the book been about any of the individual characters alone, I think the storylines would have played out very differently. Hetal’s camp rivalry would have gone on longer, her realisation that she had misjudged people would have been longer coming, and perhaps she would have overcompensated further for being told girls shouldn’t be too smart. I did miss that we didn’t get to unpack her mother’s advice to let boys feel smarter – the book leaves no doubt that the sentiment itself is wrong, but perhaps giving Hetal a chance to address it with her mother and unpack it would have been a valuable scene. It wasn’t necessary for Hetal’s development in the story, however, I just personally would have liked to have seen these adult misconceptions addressed in the way others were.
The prime example of this being handled really well was Nell and her mother. After Nell’s accident a year before which led to the loss of her arm, her mother has become aggressively overprotective, meaning that Nell has to lie to her about what she is doing to have any freedom, but also about how she is feeling because she fears her mother’s overreaction and the loss of the little space she has left. This means she has bottled up a lot of her feelings after the accident and instead of dealing with them in a healthy way she is left with aggressive anxiety and low self-esteem which she constantly forces her way through at the expense of her mental wellbeing. This storyline was a wonderful way of looking at the different reactions to trauma and how everyone handles it in ways that are more or less successful. It was also this storyline which brings all the friends back together at the end, which is a narratively lovely touch when Nell worries that she is the baggage for her friends rather than someone they love and value.
Had Sasha’s story been the solo narrative, I think a lot more would have been made of the handsome waiter, of the tension between herself, her dad, and her dad’s new girlfriend, and perhaps even her adventures home. Possibly revealing a little much of my personal sense of justice here, I felt that Sasha was entirely in the right regarding her father’s behaviour, because she was very clear about expressing her displeasure and he seemed entirely oblivious, even after the fact. He struck me as quite selfish, and perhaps this would have been even more inflated had it been the only story. Instead, because of the shortened narrative space, it is handled in the way normal people would handle it. Nothing is catastrophised, and everyone learns to meet in the middle. Whilst for me I’d have liked to see her dad acknowledge his errors more (am I vindictive? Possibly), I think it’s perhaps more valuable for the target readership to see that not everything has to be life or death. At 16, drama is often already inflated anyway, so the message of growth and measured forgiveness is important.
The final narrative, Cam’s, looks at identity and family. As a child in foster care, who has had no stability, she is preparing for loss and isolation once she ages out of the foster system in two years. Her mother’s death from drink and drug abuse isn’t romanticised, and her grandmother’s death is presented as a sad fact, but she becomes fixated on finding the father she never knew to try and protect her future. She is convinced her foster parents are preparing to get rid of her as soon as they are able, and that made my very sad. Narratively, it was clear to me that her foster parents cared for her and were proud of her, but while the story with her biological father is resolved, the storyline with her foster parents only gets briefly addressed. I would have liked to have seen that just given a little more time and emphasis on the value of found families and non-traditional family units, alongside her reconnecting with biological family.
In general, though, this book does exactly what it says on the tin. It is light, positive, and the characters grow and develop without excess stress or trauma. I also liked that the focus wasn’t really on romance, as can often be the case in teen literature with female leads. Instead it was on pursuing the characters’ dreams and finding their own resolutions before they come together again.
Briefly:
- A light, uplifting and fun story about four friends as they grow and develop.
- Despite it being light and enjoyable, it touches on issues which can be important to teens, and gives valuable messages without labouring the point.
- I think that despite having an all-female cast, this book could easily be enjoyed by boys as well, as the focus isn’t on romance but on self-discovery and personal strength.
Rating: 3/5 – there was a lot to be impressed with in this book. My ratings are based on my personal enjoyment, however I want to emphasise that this book wasn’t written for me. I found it a light read as an adult, but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone I knew with teenage kids.
May 30, 2019
2.5 stars.
Summer of No Regrets is a book very much at the young end of the YA category (it's more a tween than a teen book in my opinion), which is why I'm marking up to three stars rather than down to two, as I'm mindful I prefer older YA reads. I liked the premise of the book but I found it rather empty when I read it, and because four girls narrate I found it rather difficult to engage meaningfully with the characters, who lack development and come across as archetypes rather than characters. I feel like it might have been better to have three rather than four characters (I didn't feel Cam's story added much to the book), and the #noregrets plot rather let me down. I was expecting to see the four girls do some crazier things and really push themselves out of their comfort zones... but instead they just had a very ordinary summer. And the big tension moment, when it came, didn't feel like the stakes were high at all. It's rare for me to say this but the book could have benefited from perhaps 50 more pages so we could really invest in the characters.
There was stuff to like, don't get me wrong: it was an easy read, and the Devon setting was nice, but ultimately SONR didn't have a lot of substance, and it also didn't feel joyful enough to really be "uplit" as it was billed. But it's OK. I think readers who've loved books like Cathy Cassidy's and want to move on will get a lot from this.
Summer of No Regrets is a book very much at the young end of the YA category (it's more a tween than a teen book in my opinion), which is why I'm marking up to three stars rather than down to two, as I'm mindful I prefer older YA reads. I liked the premise of the book but I found it rather empty when I read it, and because four girls narrate I found it rather difficult to engage meaningfully with the characters, who lack development and come across as archetypes rather than characters. I feel like it might have been better to have three rather than four characters (I didn't feel Cam's story added much to the book), and the #noregrets plot rather let me down. I was expecting to see the four girls do some crazier things and really push themselves out of their comfort zones... but instead they just had a very ordinary summer. And the big tension moment, when it came, didn't feel like the stakes were high at all. It's rare for me to say this but the book could have benefited from perhaps 50 more pages so we could really invest in the characters.
There was stuff to like, don't get me wrong: it was an easy read, and the Devon setting was nice, but ultimately SONR didn't have a lot of substance, and it also didn't feel joyful enough to really be "uplit" as it was billed. But it's OK. I think readers who've loved books like Cathy Cassidy's and want to move on will get a lot from this.
January 22, 2024
Not my favorite. I liked the friendship that was displayed. It was true friendship, the best kind of friendship.
Sasha was, well, VERY annoying. She was going out with any guy who talked with her and was extremely rude to her dad. I can understand the anger and shock of realizing your dad has a girlfriend a little older than you, but her behavior was just bad! Her concern for her friends was good though, I liked how she would drop anything for them.
Hestal was okay. She was kinda quirky, which I like. She wasn't GEEKY, but she was geeky. I think the Finn x Hestal thing is super cute, and the Maddy friendship was a nice little bit. Hestal already has good friends, but she needs to get out of her comfort zone and maybe make a few more.
Cam is really cool as a character. She's bubbly and daring. She'll do anything for her friends, but she also is a little selfish. I know that she REALLY wanted to see/meet her dad, but dragging poor Nell into the mess, probably not a good idea.
Nell is a BIG people pleaser. It doesn't matter who says something to her, she is constantly supporting everyone, but not always knowing what she had gotten herself into. I like that she has adapted to her new lifestyle, even after her injury. She seems like a big ball of anxiety and though she's getting better, she's still a mess.
Overall, not the best book ever, but it was okay.
Sasha was, well, VERY annoying. She was going out with any guy who talked with her and was extremely rude to her dad. I can understand the anger and shock of realizing your dad has a girlfriend a little older than you, but her behavior was just bad! Her concern for her friends was good though, I liked how she would drop anything for them.
Hestal was okay. She was kinda quirky, which I like. She wasn't GEEKY, but she was geeky. I think the Finn x Hestal thing is super cute, and the Maddy friendship was a nice little bit. Hestal already has good friends, but she needs to get out of her comfort zone and maybe make a few more.
Cam is really cool as a character. She's bubbly and daring. She'll do anything for her friends, but she also is a little selfish. I know that she REALLY wanted to see/meet her dad, but dragging poor Nell into the mess, probably not a good idea.
Nell is a BIG people pleaser. It doesn't matter who says something to her, she is constantly supporting everyone, but not always knowing what she had gotten herself into. I like that she has adapted to her new lifestyle, even after her injury. She seems like a big ball of anxiety and though she's getting better, she's still a mess.
Overall, not the best book ever, but it was okay.
May 22, 2020
Very good book, really interesting and its the best book ive ever read!
August 8, 2022
Summer of No Regrets is told in four different perceptives, Sasha, Hetal, Cam and Nell. Each girl is unique from the last and being able to read about their each individual stories as well as them being friends made this the perfect summer book about living with no regrets and friendship.
Each chapter is told from someone else preceptive, the first being Hetal who out of all the girls would also have to be my favourite character to read about. Hetal is the nerd of the group, she calculates everything with maths or science, so when she announces she is going to science camp it seems like the total Hetal thing to do. I loved the relationship between Hetal and her Nani, it showed how much she admired and loved her from the start to the end of the book. Hetal seems to be in her element at camp, though not everyone seems to like her eagerness to do well though sometimes it is more about taking a chance to see if living with no regrets shows that everything is as it seems.
Next is Cam, bright pink hair and most likely the loudest of the group. Cam story is one you wouldn't typically read about in a young adult book, having no family of her own so is living with foster parents but Cam doesn't feel truly settled knowing one day she won't have them and be alone in the world. So she decides to track down the last piece of her puzzle - a family member who is alive hoping this would change her future. Cam didn't want to have regrets so when she suggested a summer of no regrets it was just as much for her and it was for her three best friends. She is just hoping her summer isn't full of regrets.
Then, there is Sasha who seemed like the more fashionable of all the girls, so when she says she is going to spend the summer with her dad in Gevena. Though she doesn't realise just how much of a shock it will be when he introduces her to his new girlfriend, who is younger. Sasha decides to make use of the summer of no regrets and spends some time with a handsome waitor to see a summer romance was on the cards, as being in a different country she wanted to have fun. Though life seems to throw some curveballs in her ways.
Last is Nell, her parents are more protective over her since an incident which Nell was hurt in. Nell just wants to living her life and be a normal teenager, get a job, go shopping without her mum going into overprotective mode. So when Nell decides to use Cam's summer of no regrets she starts to take chance to become more independent though sometimes pushing the barriers in place come with regrets or maybe just opportunities for the future and the relationships she has with the people in her life.
I loved this book from start to finish, the characters and the relationship the girls have between each other shows what friendship should be about and how being there for someone comes in different ways. Plus no matter where you are in the world, you will always be threre for for friends. I can say you should defintely read a Summer of No Regrets as you will not have any regrets in taking a chance with this book.
If I had to sum this book up in three words, they would be Friendship, Togetherness and Amazing.
Each chapter is told from someone else preceptive, the first being Hetal who out of all the girls would also have to be my favourite character to read about. Hetal is the nerd of the group, she calculates everything with maths or science, so when she announces she is going to science camp it seems like the total Hetal thing to do. I loved the relationship between Hetal and her Nani, it showed how much she admired and loved her from the start to the end of the book. Hetal seems to be in her element at camp, though not everyone seems to like her eagerness to do well though sometimes it is more about taking a chance to see if living with no regrets shows that everything is as it seems.
Next is Cam, bright pink hair and most likely the loudest of the group. Cam story is one you wouldn't typically read about in a young adult book, having no family of her own so is living with foster parents but Cam doesn't feel truly settled knowing one day she won't have them and be alone in the world. So she decides to track down the last piece of her puzzle - a family member who is alive hoping this would change her future. Cam didn't want to have regrets so when she suggested a summer of no regrets it was just as much for her and it was for her three best friends. She is just hoping her summer isn't full of regrets.
Then, there is Sasha who seemed like the more fashionable of all the girls, so when she says she is going to spend the summer with her dad in Gevena. Though she doesn't realise just how much of a shock it will be when he introduces her to his new girlfriend, who is younger. Sasha decides to make use of the summer of no regrets and spends some time with a handsome waitor to see a summer romance was on the cards, as being in a different country she wanted to have fun. Though life seems to throw some curveballs in her ways.
Last is Nell, her parents are more protective over her since an incident which Nell was hurt in. Nell just wants to living her life and be a normal teenager, get a job, go shopping without her mum going into overprotective mode. So when Nell decides to use Cam's summer of no regrets she starts to take chance to become more independent though sometimes pushing the barriers in place come with regrets or maybe just opportunities for the future and the relationships she has with the people in her life.
I loved this book from start to finish, the characters and the relationship the girls have between each other shows what friendship should be about and how being there for someone comes in different ways. Plus no matter where you are in the world, you will always be threre for for friends. I can say you should defintely read a Summer of No Regrets as you will not have any regrets in taking a chance with this book.
If I had to sum this book up in three words, they would be Friendship, Togetherness and Amazing.
May 22, 2019
-Featuring friendship, feels and summer sun.
Meet Kate Mallinder's debut novel, Summer of No Regrets, AKA your new summer need-to-read.
In Summer Of No Regrets, four friends who've just done their GCSE's pledge to live a brave summer of no regrets. This is fun, light read that still tackles a couple important issues and explores what it's really like to be a teen.
I really loved the girls! To sum them up: Hetal is smart, Sasha is fierce, Cam is brave and Nell is loyal. But they're all so much more than that, of course. It can be hard to tackle multiple perspectives but Kate does it really well with switching between the perspectives of these four girls.
Each of the girls had a different take on the world and I loved seeing them all interact. The dialogue between them (and secondary characters) was very genuine and you could almost hear how the tone differed from each girls perspective. I really liked each girl's individual character arc as well as their joint one. Hetal and Nell are my joint favourite characters, even though I share a name with Sasha!
Summer of No Regrets is an uplifting story of friendship, love and bravery but it also deals with things like anxiety and foster care in a sensitive way. As well as being a fun read, it featured some scenes with real tension or that really made you think.
This book is set in Devon, the same county I live in and so I really liked the familiarity the setting presented.
This book sends a heartwarming message for teens, and it says a lot about the relationships between parents and kids.
Summer of No Regrets was a tale of friendship, bravery and hope. I read it in a single day! It's full of fun and laughs with just the right dose of reality. A quick summer read I recommend to every teenager or those with a teenager's heart!
Meet Kate Mallinder's debut novel, Summer of No Regrets, AKA your new summer need-to-read.
In Summer Of No Regrets, four friends who've just done their GCSE's pledge to live a brave summer of no regrets. This is fun, light read that still tackles a couple important issues and explores what it's really like to be a teen.
I really loved the girls! To sum them up: Hetal is smart, Sasha is fierce, Cam is brave and Nell is loyal. But they're all so much more than that, of course. It can be hard to tackle multiple perspectives but Kate does it really well with switching between the perspectives of these four girls.
Each of the girls had a different take on the world and I loved seeing them all interact. The dialogue between them (and secondary characters) was very genuine and you could almost hear how the tone differed from each girls perspective. I really liked each girl's individual character arc as well as their joint one. Hetal and Nell are my joint favourite characters, even though I share a name with Sasha!
Summer of No Regrets is an uplifting story of friendship, love and bravery but it also deals with things like anxiety and foster care in a sensitive way. As well as being a fun read, it featured some scenes with real tension or that really made you think.
This book is set in Devon, the same county I live in and so I really liked the familiarity the setting presented.
This book sends a heartwarming message for teens, and it says a lot about the relationships between parents and kids.
Summer of No Regrets was a tale of friendship, bravery and hope. I read it in a single day! It's full of fun and laughs with just the right dose of reality. A quick summer read I recommend to every teenager or those with a teenager's heart!
January 28, 2020
Summer of No Regrets is a heartwarming, uplifting, fun story of four friends over the course of one memorable summer holiday.
The voices of the characters are individual as their adventures; but each have wit, compassion and wry observations on the world from teenage perspectives. I think many readers will be able to identify with Nell - who struggles to balance her growing independence with the expectations of her over-protective mother. The dialogue is authentic and the scene where Nell's mother is shouting at her from the doorstep after she returns from a shopping trip is so realistic it gave me flashbacks to my own teenage years!
Despite the lightheartedness (and brevity) of the novel, Kate Mallinder doesn't shy away from tackling difficult issues, but these are not explored as much as they could be because all of her characters are resilient and forgiving. Whilst these are great personality traits for literary heroines I would have liked the characters to 'struggle' more with their challenges, maybe taking longer to 'get' the life lesson instead of immediately after the first hurdle. That said, I understand book lengths are limited and that the author was probably severely restricted as a debut writer. I hope her publishers allow her more leeway with her next novel, which I await with eagerness!
The voices of the characters are individual as their adventures; but each have wit, compassion and wry observations on the world from teenage perspectives. I think many readers will be able to identify with Nell - who struggles to balance her growing independence with the expectations of her over-protective mother. The dialogue is authentic and the scene where Nell's mother is shouting at her from the doorstep after she returns from a shopping trip is so realistic it gave me flashbacks to my own teenage years!
Despite the lightheartedness (and brevity) of the novel, Kate Mallinder doesn't shy away from tackling difficult issues, but these are not explored as much as they could be because all of her characters are resilient and forgiving. Whilst these are great personality traits for literary heroines I would have liked the characters to 'struggle' more with their challenges, maybe taking longer to 'get' the life lesson instead of immediately after the first hurdle. That said, I understand book lengths are limited and that the author was probably severely restricted as a debut writer. I hope her publishers allow her more leeway with her next novel, which I await with eagerness!
June 10, 2019
In this book we meet four friends who decide to have a summer where they regret nothing and take control of the situations in their lives.
Hetal heads off to science camp and there she gets into a competition with a guy who she gets a crush on...
Cam sets to track down her dad after worrying that she'll have no family as she believes her foster parents will grow sick of her...
Nell suffers under her mother's protective gaze after being in an accident resulting in her having a prosthetic hand fitted. Only she wants time and space and gets a job to prove she is capable and can cope until she takes a turn...
Sasha set off for Geneva to meet up with her dad after not seeing him for ages only to find out he's got a girlfriend who's not much older than her and that soon their lives are going to change...
As they all rush home after an incident they rush and meet at the hospital and from there things get better as they open up about their deep and true feelings about their summer's.
Four girls with very different lives colliding this book is a typical summer teen beach read with modern day girls with serious issues each has to deal with. It was a serious quick read book everyone will zip through engrossed.
Hetal heads off to science camp and there she gets into a competition with a guy who she gets a crush on...
Cam sets to track down her dad after worrying that she'll have no family as she believes her foster parents will grow sick of her...
Nell suffers under her mother's protective gaze after being in an accident resulting in her having a prosthetic hand fitted. Only she wants time and space and gets a job to prove she is capable and can cope until she takes a turn...
Sasha set off for Geneva to meet up with her dad after not seeing him for ages only to find out he's got a girlfriend who's not much older than her and that soon their lives are going to change...
As they all rush home after an incident they rush and meet at the hospital and from there things get better as they open up about their deep and true feelings about their summer's.
Four girls with very different lives colliding this book is a typical summer teen beach read with modern day girls with serious issues each has to deal with. It was a serious quick read book everyone will zip through engrossed.
April 28, 2019
Cam, Nell, Hetal and Sasha have finished their exams and are making their summer plans. Inspired by Hetal's Grandmother, they decide to make it the Summer of No Regrets, following their passions without looking back. They're led in different directions as their lives become more complicated, but they always come back together again.
The summary makes this seem like a very serious story, but actually it's quite light hearted and gentle. The girls are a good mix - a foster kid, a child of divorce, a recent amputee and a science geek - and the way they support each other is heart warming.
(There was a terribly sad moment right at the end, because of something that's happened between the writing and publishing. Just bad luck.)
I hope this book does well over the summer, as it's a perfect read.
The summary makes this seem like a very serious story, but actually it's quite light hearted and gentle. The girls are a good mix - a foster kid, a child of divorce, a recent amputee and a science geek - and the way they support each other is heart warming.
(There was a terribly sad moment right at the end, because of something that's happened between the writing and publishing. Just bad luck.)
I hope this book does well over the summer, as it's a perfect read.
May 9, 2019
This is a real feel-good story of friendship that is quite an easy read...and impossible to put down. Tackling the drama of growing up and issues of diversity, family pressure, disability and foster care, it does so with a real joie-de-vivre couple with insight. Well written with fantastic dialogue and in alternating voices, the personalities of the girls play off each other well and shine through, both individually and as a collective. It is a joy to read; great escapism that allows the reader to feel they are part of the story. There are a few nail-biting moments with real tension, thought-provoking scenes filled with great sensitivity and the entire text is just plain fun. Highly recommended, this is one to dive into for the summer. It ended far too soon.
February 10, 2020
I'm going to a Creative Writing Workshop led by Kate Mallinder soon, and so I thought I'd read her book first.
Wow! I didn't expect to care very much about the summertime antics of four sixteen-year-old girls, but I wasn't just engaged by these four, I was hooked. Mallinder does such an excellent job of portraying the dilemmas and emotions of Hetal, Cam, Sasha and Nell that I couldn't wait to find out what happened with them next. The book is not long to read, and I reveled my way through it in a weekend. I accept I'm a bit of a softy, but I was genuinely moved by their stories, and how everything gets tied up neatly with a satisfying conclusion. I'll be looking out for the next offering from this author.
Wow! I didn't expect to care very much about the summertime antics of four sixteen-year-old girls, but I wasn't just engaged by these four, I was hooked. Mallinder does such an excellent job of portraying the dilemmas and emotions of Hetal, Cam, Sasha and Nell that I couldn't wait to find out what happened with them next. The book is not long to read, and I reveled my way through it in a weekend. I accept I'm a bit of a softy, but I was genuinely moved by their stories, and how everything gets tied up neatly with a satisfying conclusion. I'll be looking out for the next offering from this author.
June 7, 2020
This novel focuses on a group of friends that have just finished their GCSE's that decide they will all have a summer of no regrets.
However, they soon discover it's not that simple.
Sasha is off to Geneva to live with her Dad, who she discovers has a new girlfriend.
Hetal is off to a Science Camp in Wales
Cam with her newly dyed pink hair has a full time job.
She has never met her Dad since he left, so she takes a trip with Nell to try and talk to him.
Nell is still living in her hometown with her overly protective mother and manages to get a job at a Deli.
This is a good summer novel that was quick and easy to read!
However, they soon discover it's not that simple.
Sasha is off to Geneva to live with her Dad, who she discovers has a new girlfriend.
Hetal is off to a Science Camp in Wales
Cam with her newly dyed pink hair has a full time job.
She has never met her Dad since he left, so she takes a trip with Nell to try and talk to him.
Nell is still living in her hometown with her overly protective mother and manages to get a job at a Deli.
This is a good summer novel that was quick and easy to read!
March 23, 2022
A light, uplifting and fun story about four friends as they grow and develop. Despite it consisting of humour and being a light read, it approaches issues which can be important for teenagers in a sensitive way, and gives valuable messages without labouring the point. Despite having an all-female cast (which means it may be hard for other genders to relate to), this book could easily be enjoyed by others as well, as the focus isn’t on romance but on self-discovery and personal strength.
I would recommend for mainly year 8s and above as year 7s may not relate to the book as much and the experience if reading it may not be as enjoyable.
I would recommend for mainly year 8s and above as year 7s may not relate to the book as much and the experience if reading it may not be as enjoyable.
June 23, 2022
I’m just gonna cut to the chase with this one 1) giving it 2 stars is a stretch and 2) it’s like they have taken all cliches from bad movies or books sprinkled EXTRA cheese on top and said here you go read this … no thank you. I swear I actually cringed especially at the second half . Everything just feels like it was tied with a ribbon a little to tightly. It felt less realistic than a fantasy book ! Read at your on risk … I’m sorry this all sounds harsh but it is what it is . Okay nope that just made it worse.
May 2, 2019
I’ve been waiting for this book to come out for ages and it was so worth the wait! Sixteen year olds Cam, Hetal, Nell and Sasha vow to have a summer of no regrets. Written from each girl’s point of view, their experiences - good and bad - over the summer are vividly written and I raced through it to find out how each of their stories ended. Perfect read for young teens and above. I can’t wait to see what Kate writes next!
July 27, 2020
Absolutely loved this book. The perfect summer read, set in the beautiful seaside town of Salcombe (believe me I’ve been there!) about four friends pledging to have the best summer possible. However their plans are put on hold when problems get in the way. With Hetal away at a science camp, Sasha in Geneva, Nell determined to get some freedom from her overprotective mother, and Cam trying to find her real father, the summer really isn’t going to o as planned. ☀️
May 20, 2019
I inhaled this! An uplifting story of friendship that doesn't shy away from trickier subjects like divorce, foster care and dealing with regret. The four main characters are well-drawn and have a tender, loving friendship that is such a pleasure to read. I can't think of a better beach read for the summer break.
August 12, 2019
This was a really cute book! It reminded me a lot about the sisterhood of the traveling pants because of the strong friendship between the four girls. I enjoyed the four separate storylines and it wasn't hard to distinguish which girl was telling the story so I believe the author did an amazing job at making their own voices unique.
can't wait to read more from Kate Mallinder
can't wait to read more from Kate Mallinder
May 3, 2020
I liked most of the characters except sasha. It was a quick and easy read which is wanted to read right now. It was ok, nothing special but it had a nice theme of living in the moment and having no regrets.
May 11, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this and accidentally read it till 3am. Four 16-year-old friends are looking forward to their summer holidays and make a pact to make it a summer of no regrets - a lovely novel about friendship and self-discovery.
May 30, 2020
A nice short book which I read in just a day. When I began I thought it was going to be a bit young, a typical young-teen (which it probably was but still a good summer read)! There wasn’t much drama but quite a lot still happened and it was a fast moving short book.
June 13, 2020
If I could give it 4.5 stars I would - I found the start of the book a little slow, and some bits felt a little unrealistic BUT once it got going I couldn't put it down and it made me very emotional. Teenage me would have devoured it in hours then told all my friends too read it too.
June 25, 2024
6.5/10: Pleasant and light-hearted book which delves and explores different, various themes that are unique and relatable to today's generation of teenagers.
Recommended if you'd like a light novel as a filler through-out your day.
Recommended if you'd like a light novel as a filler through-out your day.
January 11, 2025
Love it, was shocked when Nell was in hospital, but was amazing, love cam and her pink hair, with the additions of the kids. It's an amazing book of fun summers and friendships, with some love slipped in, but mainly about 4 girls having a true summer of no regrets. Xx
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2019
Loved it. Couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend!
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