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You Are My Summer
Elliott had always dreamed of playing a sold out gig.He never dreamt that his lover would propose to someone else during it.There are no rules when it comes to dealing with heartbreak - especially when trying to hide it from adoring fans. Elliott figures the best thing to do is to get drunk and hit on his handsome older manager, Robb.The course of love never runs smooth, and soon Elliott is facing past addictions and life changing revelations that seem almost impossible to deal with.
233 pages, Paperback
Published August 24, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 29, 2020
Usually, when I start a romance, I have some idea of where it’s going a few chapters in. You read enough romances; and they feel like they follow a script. However, in You Are My Summer, I was constantly surprised by the choices Abigail Tyrell choose to make (both good and bad). I honestly could not predict where the story was going to go or how it would unfold.
At the center of You Are My Summer is Elliot, the lead singer and songwriter of a mega-hit indie band. I got major Harry Styles vibes from Elliot, which delighted me. Elliot is recovering from drug addition and is in a polyamorous relationship with his band mates, his best friend Finn and Claire, at the start of the novel. That relationship falls apart, however, leaving Elliot to put the pieces of his life back together with the help of his band manager Robb, who he may have feelings for.
You Are My Summer was truly a ride. I thought it was going to be a more light-hearted romance, but to her credit Tyrrell was actually interested in exploring addiction, mental health, and how fame impacts the famous. I would read a sequel or a longer version of You Are My Summer because I was so interested in these characters and their world. I do wish there had been more development in certain spots. Sometimes, the world Tyrrell created didn’t seem at all lived in. Also, certain plot developments/character moments felt rushed or not earned (i.e. a lot of the stuff with Finn towards the end.)
Still, You Are My Summer is a surprising, interesting romance that makes bold moves. I’d definitely recommend it, and I look forward to reading more from Tyrrell.
At the center of You Are My Summer is Elliot, the lead singer and songwriter of a mega-hit indie band. I got major Harry Styles vibes from Elliot, which delighted me. Elliot is recovering from drug addition and is in a polyamorous relationship with his band mates, his best friend Finn and Claire, at the start of the novel. That relationship falls apart, however, leaving Elliot to put the pieces of his life back together with the help of his band manager Robb, who he may have feelings for.
You Are My Summer was truly a ride. I thought it was going to be a more light-hearted romance, but to her credit Tyrrell was actually interested in exploring addiction, mental health, and how fame impacts the famous. I would read a sequel or a longer version of You Are My Summer because I was so interested in these characters and their world. I do wish there had been more development in certain spots. Sometimes, the world Tyrrell created didn’t seem at all lived in. Also, certain plot developments/character moments felt rushed or not earned (i.e. a lot of the stuff with Finn towards the end.)
Still, You Are My Summer is a surprising, interesting romance that makes bold moves. I’d definitely recommend it, and I look forward to reading more from Tyrrell.
September 22, 2020
https://youtu.be/of2P6Fpl3tQ (Link To My Spoiler Free Review)
September 13, 2020
I first heard of A.E. Tyrrell when I saw a post about “Linger on My Pillow” and immediately followed her (though the irony of this is that I still have yet to read that story). Not too long later, she was looking for people to read her newest story, “You Are My Summer” and couldn’t wait to read it and review it, and I was certainly not disappointed. In fact, after going in with no idea what to expect or expectations of any kind, I’m pleasantly surprised and delighted by how much I enjoyed this book.
“You Are My Summer” revolves around Elliott, a 30 something-year-old lead singer of the band, Paper Planes. He just so happens to be in a polyamorous relationship with two other members of the band, Finn and Claire. One night, when the band is on tour, Finn proposes to Claire at the end of their show, causing Elliott to leave the relationship. Feeling low and close to relapsing, he calls his manager, Rob, and the two form a close relationship, which grows into a little more. (as it tends to go ;) )
Having never read Tyrrell’s writing before, and going in not knowing much about the book, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. At only 237 pages, I wasn’t sure how in-depth the book would go into different characters or how long of a time it would cover, but shockingly it does a lot.
Tyrrell is extremely intentional with the scenes and dialogue in her book to make everything count. From conflicts and fights, to more intimate moments, everything matters, making a complete picture for the reader to enjoy. Not only that, but “You Are My Summer” offers such a small lineup of characters that it’s easy to keep track of who everyone is and their role in Elliott’s story.
That being said, the book is fairly predictable and there weren’t many moments that had me shocked. When I was most taken aback, it was due to time jumps that caught me off guard, and there were quite a few of them in this book. Something else that feels just a little off in terms of the reading experience, is the clunky dialogue at times. For the most part, the characters use no contractions which made things flow less smooth at times, but it wasn’t too distracting during my read through.
Besides those two minor comments, I have nothing but praise for this book. It’s a quick read through which spans about a 5 year period of Elliott’s life, and his growth as a character is seen in every next scene. He’s messed up in a number of ways, but it makes him all the more human and relatable to readers.
In addition to the fact this is an LGBT+ story, it offers a lot of different representations that I don’t believe is showcased much, including polyamorous relationships, sexuality discovery at an older age, and a relationship with about a 10 year age gap. Traditionally when you think of an LGBT+ book, I don’t think that any of these are what comes to mind, so it was a nice change that hopefully more authors will incorporate to diversify content in stories.
The Verdict
Tyrell has created a short, fun, and sexy story with “You Are My Summer.” From an easy-going story with a fun lineup of characters, this is a great read for the end of summer and a kickoff to a book-filled fall. Although there were a couple of minor bumps that took me out of the experience at times, this is still a great read that I recommend to anyone looking for a fun read.
You can buy “You Are My Summer” digitally or in paperback if you live in the UK when it releases on September 28th.
My final rating: ⅘ stars!
And a thank you to the author herself, A.E. Tyrrell for an ARC in exchange for this review!
“You Are My Summer” revolves around Elliott, a 30 something-year-old lead singer of the band, Paper Planes. He just so happens to be in a polyamorous relationship with two other members of the band, Finn and Claire. One night, when the band is on tour, Finn proposes to Claire at the end of their show, causing Elliott to leave the relationship. Feeling low and close to relapsing, he calls his manager, Rob, and the two form a close relationship, which grows into a little more. (as it tends to go ;) )
Having never read Tyrrell’s writing before, and going in not knowing much about the book, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. At only 237 pages, I wasn’t sure how in-depth the book would go into different characters or how long of a time it would cover, but shockingly it does a lot.
Tyrrell is extremely intentional with the scenes and dialogue in her book to make everything count. From conflicts and fights, to more intimate moments, everything matters, making a complete picture for the reader to enjoy. Not only that, but “You Are My Summer” offers such a small lineup of characters that it’s easy to keep track of who everyone is and their role in Elliott’s story.
That being said, the book is fairly predictable and there weren’t many moments that had me shocked. When I was most taken aback, it was due to time jumps that caught me off guard, and there were quite a few of them in this book. Something else that feels just a little off in terms of the reading experience, is the clunky dialogue at times. For the most part, the characters use no contractions which made things flow less smooth at times, but it wasn’t too distracting during my read through.
Besides those two minor comments, I have nothing but praise for this book. It’s a quick read through which spans about a 5 year period of Elliott’s life, and his growth as a character is seen in every next scene. He’s messed up in a number of ways, but it makes him all the more human and relatable to readers.
In addition to the fact this is an LGBT+ story, it offers a lot of different representations that I don’t believe is showcased much, including polyamorous relationships, sexuality discovery at an older age, and a relationship with about a 10 year age gap. Traditionally when you think of an LGBT+ book, I don’t think that any of these are what comes to mind, so it was a nice change that hopefully more authors will incorporate to diversify content in stories.
The Verdict
Tyrell has created a short, fun, and sexy story with “You Are My Summer.” From an easy-going story with a fun lineup of characters, this is a great read for the end of summer and a kickoff to a book-filled fall. Although there were a couple of minor bumps that took me out of the experience at times, this is still a great read that I recommend to anyone looking for a fun read.
You can buy “You Are My Summer” digitally or in paperback if you live in the UK when it releases on September 28th.
My final rating: ⅘ stars!
And a thank you to the author herself, A.E. Tyrrell for an ARC in exchange for this review!
August 27, 2020
Tyrrell creates the ultimate sex god, the lead singer of an indie pop band, known as much for his style as his exploits in the tabloids, then eviscerates him emotionally, forcing him to shed his public persona and leaving him raw and vulnerable. It is here we fall in love with him, watching him recover from heartbreak, and move on to a real, mature love for the first time in his life.
Tyrrell fully immerses you in the world of former addict and current rockstar Elliott, who seems to have it all together, and we live through it when his world crashes down around him in every way possible. But he's not alone, never fully, as the characters inhabiting Tyrrell's novels are always three-dimensional and gripping, full of their own quirks yet never cartoonish or hokey. (I'm waiting for a spin-off featuring Elliott's mum.) How Elliott interacts with the people who love him--or claim they do--is an immersive experience leaving you satisfied, and thrilled--but still wanting an encore.
Tyrrell fully immerses you in the world of former addict and current rockstar Elliott, who seems to have it all together, and we live through it when his world crashes down around him in every way possible. But he's not alone, never fully, as the characters inhabiting Tyrrell's novels are always three-dimensional and gripping, full of their own quirks yet never cartoonish or hokey. (I'm waiting for a spin-off featuring Elliott's mum.) How Elliott interacts with the people who love him--or claim they do--is an immersive experience leaving you satisfied, and thrilled--but still wanting an encore.
September 8, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy.
This is one of those books you wish you could read again without having read it before to get those same emotions all over again.
Elliott was an amazing character, from the beginning I was drawn to him and felt his anguish throughout. The romance came naturally and I LOVED the pairing in this.
Christine was a wonderful supporting character, is it weird I want her to have a spin off involving the chickens?!
There are details of drug abuse in this, but it is done tastefully and thoughtfully, it is obvious the author has had these issues or has done extensive research on the matter to handle it so well.
I would like to see more from these characters and do hope that there will be a sequel.
This is one of those books you wish you could read again without having read it before to get those same emotions all over again.
Elliott was an amazing character, from the beginning I was drawn to him and felt his anguish throughout. The romance came naturally and I LOVED the pairing in this.
Christine was a wonderful supporting character, is it weird I want her to have a spin off involving the chickens?!
There are details of drug abuse in this, but it is done tastefully and thoughtfully, it is obvious the author has had these issues or has done extensive research on the matter to handle it so well.
I would like to see more from these characters and do hope that there will be a sequel.
August 31, 2020
Abigail Tyrrell crafts a beautiful story that encompasses both the struggles of love and addiction. The protagonist Elliot drives the narrative as we follow both his triumph as a music sensation and his sorrow for the demise of his complex relationship. As details of his troubled past unfold which threaten to devastate him further, a glimmer of hope transpires in the form of the band’s manager Robb. An emotional story with depth that will make the reader empathise with Elliot's plight, learning there is much more to our idols than meets the eye. I would highly recommend this novel to others, another spellbinding success for Abigail Tyrrell!
September 4, 2020
Je me suis inscrit et j'en ai reçu une copie à l'avance. J'ai lu linger on my pillow & roots before branches par cet auteur donc je suis déjà fan de son travail. J'ai trouvé ce livre très différent des deux autres mais j'ai adoré. La romance avec Elliott et Robb était magnifique. J'ai aimé plonger dans les dépendances d'Elliott et j'ai trouvé ça déchirant. Il y avait tellement beaucoup de profondeur à cette histoire. Mini et Christine étaient également de brillants personnages de soutien. Dans l'ensemble, c'était fantastique, je le recommande vivement.
September 5, 2020
I received an ARC of this novel for an honest review.
This is easily the LGBTQIA+ novel of the year. I was enthralled from the beginning right until the end.
I wasn't expecting to be taken on a road that explores addiction and recovery - and it was done so well.
Elliott was a flawed but believable character who was battling inner demons whole trying to juggle a complicated public persona.
The romance was beautifully done, never too much or cliché.
I loved the humour too - especially with Elliott's mum.
Add this to your read list, you won't regret it.
This is easily the LGBTQIA+ novel of the year. I was enthralled from the beginning right until the end.
I wasn't expecting to be taken on a road that explores addiction and recovery - and it was done so well.
Elliott was a flawed but believable character who was battling inner demons whole trying to juggle a complicated public persona.
The romance was beautifully done, never too much or cliché.
I loved the humour too - especially with Elliott's mum.
Add this to your read list, you won't regret it.
October 8, 2020
We deal with a lot of issues here mainly addiction, mental health and the price of fame and what it does to a person and these are explored quite thorough. After a relationship with both man and woman Elliot is devastated when they get engaged and seeks comfort from his manager. Elliot struggled with his public persona and his real one and it was hard at times to stay on track but with the right support it was manageable. Hilarious and poignant in places this was a compelling read.
February 7, 2021
"That there was his family. [...] The only addiction he was happy to have."
You Are My Summer was an interesting read shedding a light on the more or less hidden side of the famous as we follow 30-year-old Elliott, lead singer and songwriter of a successful band.
The book's topics were quite heavy. We deal with drug addiction and recovery, mental health, and pressure that comes with being popular, as well as queer relationships at an older age - all over a span of about five years. To balance these topics out, there were good timed humorous moments that also made the side characters a lot more lively.
The plot was quite dialogue-driven and left a bit to be desired description-wise, but once I started reading between the lines I found myself enjoying and appreciating this type of storytelling a lot more.
However, I would have loved to get more than just a glimpse at the thoughts of the main characters in certain moments, because of the lack thereof some character development got a little lost and some scenes felt rather rushed, especially towards the end. Additionally, I would have liked to see some more of the dynamics of the polyamorous relationship to understand certain actions a little more.
You Are My Summer was an interesting read shedding a light on the more or less hidden side of the famous as we follow 30-year-old Elliott, lead singer and songwriter of a successful band.
The book's topics were quite heavy. We deal with drug addiction and recovery, mental health, and pressure that comes with being popular, as well as queer relationships at an older age - all over a span of about five years. To balance these topics out, there were good timed humorous moments that also made the side characters a lot more lively.
The plot was quite dialogue-driven and left a bit to be desired description-wise, but once I started reading between the lines I found myself enjoying and appreciating this type of storytelling a lot more.
However, I would have loved to get more than just a glimpse at the thoughts of the main characters in certain moments, because of the lack thereof some character development got a little lost and some scenes felt rather rushed, especially towards the end. Additionally, I would have liked to see some more of the dynamics of the polyamorous relationship to understand certain actions a little more.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews