The Melancholy of Summer

by Louisa Onomé

From acclaimed author Louisa Onomé comes the perfect embodiment of a Sad Girl Summer a girl left on her own during a hot Toronto summer, grasping at sunshine, haunted by absence Summer and her parents are on the run, each in their own way. Under investigation for fraud, Summer’s mother and father have left town without a word, leaving a stunned seventeen-year-old Summer behind. When Summer is discovered to be living alone, without a guardian or a permanent residence, for a whole year, she is sent to live with a cousin who seems to have it all—wealth, talent, charm and the thing Summer craves most of freedom. Despite Oluchi’s eager offers of companionship, Summer continues to keep her guard up and her expectations of Olu low. It’s the only way she can make it to eighteen and true and legal by not trusting the adults in her life and by quashing her conflicted hopes of reuniting with her parents. But the discovery of a mysterious letter from her parents to an estranged family friend throws a wrench in Summer’s plans. Drawn by her need to understand her parents’ betrayal, Summer finds her carefully curated calm giving way to a very necessary storm—one that brings Summer, her cousin and even her friends closer together. But as Summer feels increasingly haunted by the absence—and jarring presence—of her parents, she must learn how to offer more of herself to herself. 

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Canada, Teen

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 30, 2023

About the author

Louisa Onomé is a writer of books for teens. She holds a BA in professional writing from York University and is represented by Claire Friedman at InkWell Management.

A part of the Author Mentor Match round 3 cohort, she is also a writing mentor and all-around cheerleader for diverse works and writers. When she is not writing, her hobbies include picking up languages she may never use, trying to bake bread, and perfecting her skincare routine. She currently resides in the Toronto area.

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas 🎄 present 🎁
----

A good story that felt rushed in the final acts. Not sure how many other pages would have been needed it, but the ending felt a tad abrupt too.

I liked the other characters, aside from certain people. When one part happened, I realized before Summer did what happened but even then I didn't realize one thing was flipped around from what Summer thought it was.

Wouldn't read it again but don't regret reading it either.

[Glenda Nelms · Rating 4 out of 5]

The melancholy of summer is an YA coming of age novel that focuses on finding one’s voice admits deep hurt and absent guardianship while being displaced. Summer Uzoma has been abandoned by her parents who are wanted for credit card fraud and are on the run.

Summer is moving from home to home, staying with friends while trying to be low key, counting down the days to her 18th birthday. A social worker insisted on Summer staying with a cousin that she barely knows. She is forced to confront the ways on how abandonment has affected her. Onome took the risk in using characters that are imperfect, flawed. It was a ride of emotions especially in the final part of the story. It gives hope and reassurance that things can be okay as long as you’re willing to open yourself to love and support.

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a quick read for me, because the writing flowed so well, and I felt so invested in Summer's story. When Summer's parents go on the run for fraud, they leave her all alone, couchsurfing between her friends' places. Child Protective Services ends up connecting with her cousin Olu, who's only two years older but has a place to live as she's a famous Japanese singer. Summer moves in with her, but Olu has problems of her own as well. At the heart of this was so much care for others, and I loved the dynamic between Summer and Olu, which was complicated because they hardly knew each other and had their own things going on. Summer was such an easy character to care about, and I was happy to see her learn over the course of the book that there are always people who care about her and that she doesn't have to do everything alone.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Summer may be melancholy, but this isn't just standard teen drama; she has good reason to be frustrated. The great news for readers is that she's easy to feel for, root for, and watch (hopefully!) win at times.

Though her 18th birthday is just weeks away, when the novel begins, at 17, Summer is legally still a minor, and this puts her in a tough spot. Summer has been on her own because her parents seem to have committed a fairly serious crime jointly and went on the run, leaving her to fend for herself AND to have to try to process who these people really are, what they've done, and how this is all impacting her. Couch surfing is working out but only in Summer's mind. Everyone else understands that she needs and deserves more stability, and she gets this in a surprising place: with a 20-year-old relative who is also a Japanese popstar. While Summer thrives on her ability to take care of herself and her general frustration over someone who is barely older than she is having responsibility for her, she also makes an intriguing transformation as the novel progresses.

Summer is a great character, and her coming-of-age storyline, especially being on the 17/18 cusp and considering what's next by way of her independence and higher education options, will be extremely relatable to many readers. The central challenge with this book is the lack of relatability in two other areas: parents who are on the run for criminal activity and a popstar cousin. The thematic connections are there (absent guardians, lack of agency, a general sense of unfairness, etc.), but some readers may find these details distracting and/or too out there to be particularly transferrable.

This is my second read from this author, and I continue to enjoy the works. I will be looking forward to more from Onome and recommending this one to students, especially those looking for insight into this particular age group and time of life.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was frustrating to read - for important reasons, but it still impacted how much I liked the book. I think it's actually really weird that the summary calls this a "Sad Girl Summer" book, because it's trying to be relatable and trendy when the premise that Summer's parents abandon her as a minor and she becomes homeless isn't memeable at all.

I do appreciate how this depicted Summer's complex relationship with her family - I think in a sense it can be triggering if you come from a family that does not support you, because this book doesn't pretend that the way she's been treated by the adults in her life isn't fucked up. Summer hangs onto hope that her parents will return, but when it's revealed that her aunt has been sheltering her parents the entire time (and letting her go homeless), I wanted to scream. They aren't good people, and it can be really hard to accept if your family genuinely does not care about you. Neglect and the pressure to pretend everything is fine (especially in immigrant households) are huge themes, and this was tough to read at points because of that. It's integral to the story, but it's still hard to swallow.

Another aspect I had similar feelings about was how Summer responded to other people: because she's been rejected so many times, when people do try to help her she pushes them away. I absolutely think Summer's character is realistic in that sense, but I think because this was in first person it was sometimes overwhelming to continually read her thoughts of "no one likes me, I'm worthless, I can't trust anyone but myself." The entire book was just a lot to process emotionally, which I wasn't expecting.

This book is important (especially because I can't name any other YA books I've read where the protagonist is homeless), but it also has a lot of issues. I was constantly waiting for things to click and the story to pick up, but it trudged the entire time.

[Rebecca (onmybookitlist)]

I absolutely loved this book. It had me sobbing multiple times.
Olu and Summer have my heart. They both have so much trauma to unpack but they are also there for each other and try to help one another out.

Summer is running away from a lot of her problems and she tries to navigate what's next for her as she does this you watch her make mistakes and navigate her feelings. I really like the setting being in Toronto.

Overall this story was heartbreaking and beautifully written. If you read this you may want to have tissues nearby.

Thank you @FrenzyBooks for the ARC.

[Rhayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not quite 4 stars but 3 is too low a rating. 3.8/5

It was a slow ass read for sure, so it did drag on a bit. However, it was so emotionally charged, especially in the last few chapters. I loved how real and genuine Summer’s character was. Her tribulations and everything she was feeling had me teary eyed.

I always love me a Canadian story, especially when it brings up landmarks I recognize. Homegirl brought up Axis Club and I was hype.

My grievances with the novel was the pacing and how quickly everything was wrapped in up the end. Perhaps, I’m a pessimist, but homegirl has no money, no family, (her one 20 year old cousin doesn’t count) no job, and no goals. I wish they explored other possibilities and happy endings other than university.

[Kandace Branch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one! Summer is left alone when her parents make a run for it leaving her abandoned for a year before she is sent to live with a distant cousin. As you are reading, you can feel the emotions that Summer is experiencing particularly around abandonment. As she is approaching her eighteenth birthday, she is feeling as though she can do it all alone but realizes, that despite not having her family, her chosen family (friends) support her along the way.

[maddie ⋆ | thecozybookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

From acclaimed author Louisa Onomé comes the perfect embodiment of a Sad Girl Summer, a girl left on her own during a hot Toronto summer, grasping at sunshine, haunted by absence.

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for the opportunity to read and review a gifted copy of this book. This in no way affects my review, all opinions are my own.

Wow this was a heavy and frustrating read. Summer spends the majority of this book running from her problems and trying to deal with her own trauma, which can be very hard to experience as a reader. Especially when the main character is a teenager, you just want to hug them and shake them! So even though this was a quick book, I did have to put this one down repeatedly just because it would make me anxious to read at times. Summer is a very complex character (but also nowhere near as complex as the rest of her family, all I can say is wow) but her growth throughout the story was so endearing to experience.

This was definitely a slow burn that heavily relied on characters over plot, which can be difficult when so many of the supporting characters were also deeply flawed and frustrating. I'm glad I read this one but it did feel very heavy, so keep that in mind if you decide to check it out!

[Jenn [everythingshereads]]

This book gave me all of the Lupe Fiasco "Kick, Push" vibes!

The Melancholy of Summer is best summarized as a sad girl summer read. This is a YA contemporary that focuses on themes surrounding abandonment and self-discovery while being displaced.

Summer, our main character, has been abandoned by her parents who are wanted for credit card fraud and so are on the run. They left her, with no explanation, to fend for herself. For the majority of this story, she is in a very dark place -- moving from home to home, staying with friends while trying to be lowkey, waiting out the summer and counting down to her 18th birthday when she will have full autonomy of her life.

Very early into the story, a social worker gets involved and is insistent on Summer staying with a cousin who she barely knows. During the time spent with said cousin, she is forced to confront the ways that abandonment has impacted her, which becomes the primary focus of the story.

What I appreciated most about this book is the flawed characters. Summer's parents particularly stood out to me, as we see a unique representation of flawed African parents. Usually, in a story about children being done wrong by parents of Caribbean or African descent, we already have an idea of what the wrongdoing will be. I loved that the author took this risk, as African communities are very close knit, and to have parents abandon their child is pretty much unheard of -- this is explored in Summer's inner monologues.

Summer, too, is a flawed character who has a lot of unpacking and mending to do, particularly where her relationships with her friends is concerned. But, despite being flawed, she has a very likeable voice and is very easy to root for.

I would recommend this book to readers who love unconventional coming of age stories centered around absent guardianship and stories about finding one's voice amidst deep hurt.

[Hope Hynson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Melancholy of Summer” is a deeply moving YA novel about a young Nigerian-Canadian girl, Summer Uzoma, who is struggling with her experiences with homelessness. At a pivotal transition point in her life, Summer is abandoned by those who are meant to always prioritize her, her parents, and it affects her much more than she ever wants to let on. Once a social worker finds out that Summer has been on her own for the better part of a year, it’s determined that she must officially live with a responsible adult, and instead of staying with her friends and their families as she’s been doing, they find out she has a distant cousin who lives nearby and ship her off to live with them. What follows is a young girl’s journey to and through the pain, anger, and restrictions that come with her unique situation.

As someone who has personally experienced homelessness, this story hit a lot of really important marks for me. So many scenes brought back up memories and feelings that I’m grateful to no longer be facing, but will never be able to scrub from my mind. I related so much to Summer, and I believe that readers, even without having a personality connection to her story, will be able to put themselves into her shoes to understand the hopelessness and desperation that often goes hand in hand with experiencing homelessness. Those feelings are magnified further by the fact that Summer is dealing with the harshness of her parental abandonment and circumstance-derived apathy about the specific details of her future. Summer learns that no matter how far you run, how hard you skate, or how many loving people you try to push away, you can’t truly escape the realities of your situation without dealing with them head on. 4.5 stars & I highly recommend for those looking to expand their understanding of a reality that many face in silence.

[myblackbookish_life · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!
** ** **

This whole story feels very much reminiscent of an indie Sundance film in the circuit. And I mean that in the best possible way. Louisa writes Black (Nigerian) girls who don’t know what to do with their big emotions and I love that. What really makes this story work for me is not just going along for the bumpy, awkward ride with Summer as she grapples with not dealing with her messy emotions of abandonment and feeling untethered, but that we also get her cousin Olu and her struggles. Olu, who is barely an adult herself, and like her younger cousin, trying to 'fake it' until she makes it.

[Juno · Rating 3 out of 5]

felt slow in some parts, rushed in others, especially at the end everything seemed resolved immediately without me fully understanding how or why we got there. i would have liked the aspects of homelessness and the problems with the system to be fleshed out more.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know how to feel about this book. I liked it at one point but then the ending annoyed me. This book is about a 17 year old girl name Summer who lives with her mom and dad. One day they just up and leave her and are on the run from the police. Next thing you know, she sees her parents on TV; wanted for credit card fraud. Because she’s underage a lady from CPS name Gardenia, tells her that she will be getting placed with her 20 year old cousin, Olu who is supposively this big time artist who moved from Japan. Living with Olu is awkward. Summer feels as if a person so close to her age should not be her caretaker; especially since she hasn’t seen her in years. With her cousin and friends efforts, maybe Summer can learn to trust people enough to let them in.

Summers friends to me weren’t the greatest except Jet. Sid’s girlfriend Kirsten was a piece of work and there was so much disrespect from her to Summer that it made me want to jump through the pages and slap her! Also as a friend, how can you allow your girlfriend to talk down on your best friend? Sid should have intervened so many times. And then Kirsten wanted to come around in the end. Girl bye!

Let’s talk about Gardenia. I felt like she didn’t care about Summer at all and she was just doing her job. Also with Summer about to turn 18 in a month, why even bother doing all that CPS paperwork? If she was living with her friend and doing just fine, why take her away from that environment and place her with a family member that she doesn’t even have a relationship with. Crazy thing is, if Gardenia saw the “real” Olu, she would have taken Summer from her too; especially with her drinking problem. Also, Gardenia was so pressed for Olu to pay Summers tuition for York. I wouldn’t even feel comfortable asking a family member that I was close to, to do that; let alone a distant one.

Olu wasn’t my favorite person when she was introduced in the book, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt because I felt as if she was dealing with something to cause her to drink so much. But why lie to the person you are supposed to be taking care of? I kinda felt bad for her because when Summer was placed with her; she wanted a relationship with her so bad but Summer didn’t even give her the time of day! I eventually grew to like Olu but when the ending came, I immediately drew back!

Summers parents being on the run and then Summer finding her mom at her aunts house was odd. After reading this book, I have so many questions? Why would her aunt help Summer’s parents but allowed her niece to be homeless? Why wasn’t her parents brung back up towards the end and whatever happened with them? Why was the aunt the way she was towards Summer? Why did Olu go back to Japan and leave Summer; even if she let her keep the apartment? I feel like the ending was super rushed and a lot of my questions weren’t answered and that made my rating go down. It started off slow and then got strong and then idk what happened. It had so much potential. This literally could have been a 4.5 star read, if the ending was a little slower and it explained things more in detail.

[Kimberley Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was introduced to this book through pinterest. The cover and title both caught my attention. The girl looked mysterious on her skateboard. It makes you wonder who she is and why she is melancholic.

The overall concept was very interesting; An abandoned teenager whose parents are wanted, the news being spread, the mysterious letter. Something or someone that I also found interesting is Summer’s character. While reading, I felt like she was numb… but later on, she admitted to being sad and allowed herself to cry. I found it very realistic and interesting. Her cousin Olu was also an interesting character and her journey.

The story was great, yet empty at the same time. Perhaps there will be a second part in the future? If so, then I’d gladly read it.

I found her reunion with her mother so quick and empty. She hasn’t gotten the opportunity to confront her father or find their hiding spot. Auntie Dara had potential in the beginning, but not so around the end. It all felt empty, as though something was missing.

As of Olu, her story was interesting, but empty at the same time. It is hard to explain. Perhaps it would’ve been great if she had her own book where her story was more detailed, because the concept was really good.

I would’ve liked it more if the story was completely about Summer, though. For instance: Starting from the beginning when her parents vanished and how her life and reputation completely changed because of their crimes. How she will investigate to find her parents, whilst grieving and going through her emotions. (I know it would take more time)… But if there will be a second story, I hope it is about Summer and her life in Olu’s apartment, college and more clues about her parents and whereabouts (perhaps an arrest?) and her bond with her friends who are away for college.

Also an unpopular opinion, as a friends to lovers trope girly, I shipped summer with Sid lol. I found them so cute when he checked her injury while holding her chin and when they had eyecontact!

[confused creature · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book was such a lovely experience, maybe it was me choosing the perfect time to read it (in a melancholic summer ) but overall this book succeeded to give what it needed to (i would've loved to get some more about their friendships at the end but i still feel good knowing that it was wrapped up in a good way ) ,the writing was very smooth and sooo enjoyable to read,the descriptions were well written and incredibe to read when again ,youre also in summer ) , the characters were all perfect for what they were written as ,they were intresting, believable,some were also very fun and quirky , i see a lot of people who got bored or didn't like summer's gloomy thoughts but personally i loved reading summer's inner monologue a lot ,it was honestly very realistic imo for a 17 years old who is going through a lot , and i just loved how the author's writing made me attached to summer from the first 2 pages.
Reading this book was an intimate ,bittersweet , heartwarming experience to that i am so soo thankful for

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an outstanding YA book. We're in Canada, there's skater culture, and lots of family drama. How would you feel if your parents became wanted criminals and literally abandoned you? How much more upset would you be if the rest of your broader family did nothing to help you, leaving you to couchsurf with friends for an entire year? Given those two things, it's so understandable that Summer would be struggling with her emotions, to feel and do what's "normal", and to be open and honest with those around her. There were some heavy moments, some juvenile moments, and these wonderful moments where Summer begins to find herself. Time by the water really is magic!

[Can Dragons Read? · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like aspects of this but overall I found it to be just okay. I really liked how the author wrote the dynamics of the family and the tensions, trauma, and complexities between them. It felt like a real family with their own set of issues (could possibly be triggering to some readers fyi) but the emotions around it were relatable. Summer and her frustrations were valid because of what happened to her and I liked how her character was written. That being said, a lot of the book was just okay and the ending was rushed and abrupt and it threw me off. I definitely think you should give it a chance but it's not my favorite. 3.5 rounded up.

[Neil Bonuke · Rating 3 out of 5]

sorry for the short review but here we go:

I finished almost the entire book in one sitting. It was definitely engaging from the start to finish, besides the pacing that got a little sloppy towards the end. I think the characters were realistic and developed, and the subject matter and way the author approached it felt very real, especially since I am of extremely rich African descent myself. It wasn’t anything crazy good or crazy bad, just on the higher end of average.

wish I could’ve wrote something longer. Eh, bye. Can’t keep this up for every novel.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this quite a bit, I felt for Summer and even though some things were a little far fetched (I can't imagine the media cycle keeping up for a full year for someone indicted on fraud like that, and the internet cycle would have cared for a week tops) this was well written and interesting. I thought for a moment this was going to turn romance, and I'm glad it didn't, this stands strongly without needing it.

[katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i finally finished reading this! i thought it was okay; some parts i really liked and some parts i didn't. the writing wasn't my favorite because it was pretty juvenile (as was the main character, summer, who is supposed to be 17) and sometimes there would be significant setting changes in the middle of a paragraph. otherwise, i enjoyed the themes of learning to grieve, accept things, and let go. this could be helpful for teens looking for some relatability in that regard.

[Princess of Dragonstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing read, 5/5 stars!!! I loved it so much!!! It was so beautifully well written and also heartbreaking at the same time. I feel so much for Summer and Olu, for what they've been through. This was such a nice and comforting read, I'm glad things worked out in the end for the two of them.

[Jan Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this book was very well written. Kept me engaged and you could really feel the emotions of the characters! Summer’s parents are soooo wicked and so is that auntie dara hmm! But i love that it ended with somewhat of a happy ending for both Olu and Summer! I would’ve liked to maybe see how Olu’s show went but overall thoroughly enjoyed this book!

[Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the beginning and the uncertainty, but liked the book less well as the story progressed. The main character kept running, and no one seemed able to help or speak into her life. Sad. On the other hand, it also suggests that there aren't easy fixes to life's troubles. Also saddened by the behaviour of some adults who don't step up.

[Dedellia (Andréanne) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars. I liked this book. It was slow to start and it get frustrating at some point because I felt like the story was stagnant. It did get better, the story started to grow and it was so easy to get into Summer head. It definitely made me cry. There a lot of unanswered questions, but I guess that is part of life and it does make the story more realistic

[Ekene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me completely by surprise and hit me way harder than I thought.

[J.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute ig but could’ve done with more jet content

[Annabelle Pip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful sad girl summer kind of book.

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

average plot, average characters, average ending. therefore, average book.