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After Summer: A Life-Changing YA Romance Novel of First Love and Coming-of-Age
This summer is different. School is over for Alex Delaney, and he’s waiting for his university acceptance, only seventeen days away. The waiting is killing him. He’s not expecting much from summer. Bodysurfing, TV, but mainly waiting.
So he’s not ready for the girl who cuts past him on a wave. Not at all prepared for her perfect balance on the board, the elegant muscles of her shoulders and back. Just a girl. Compelling green eyes, golden skin, something graceful and elusive about her. Summer is about to change.
So he’s not ready for the girl who cuts past him on a wave. Not at all prepared for her perfect balance on the board, the elegant muscles of her shoulders and back. Just a girl. Compelling green eyes, golden skin, something graceful and elusive about her. Summer is about to change.
226 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1996
7 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Nick Earls
74 books172 followersNick Earls is the author of twelve books, including bestselling novels such as Zigzag Street, Bachelor Kisses, Perfect Skin and World of Chickens. His work has been published internationally in English and also in translation, and this led to him being a finalist in the Premier of Queensland’s Awards for Export Achievement in 1999.
Zigzag Street won a Betty Trask Award in the UK in 1998, and is currently being developed into a feature film. Bachelor Kisses was one of Who Weekly’s Books of the Year in 1998. Perfect Skin was the only novel nominated for an Australian Comedy Award in 2003, and has recently been filmed in Italy.
He has written five novels with teenage central characters. 48 Shades of Brown was awarded Book of the Year (older readers) by the Children’s Book Council in 2000, and in the US it was a Kirkus Reviews selection in its books of the year for 2004. A feature film adapted from the novel was released in Australia by Buena Vista International in August 2006, and has subsequently screened at festivals in North America and Europe. His earlier young-adult novel, After January, was also an award-winner.
After January, 48 Shades of Brown, Zigzag Street and Perfect Skin have all been successfully adapted for theatre by La Boite, and the Zigzag Street play toured nationally in 2005.
Nick Earls was the founding chair of the Australian arm of the international aid agency War Child and is now a War Child ambassador. He is or has also been patron of Kids Who Make a Difference and Hands on Art, and an honorary ambassador for both the Mater Foundation and the Abused Child Trust. On top of that, he was the face of Brisbane Marketing’s ‘Downtown Brisbane’ and ‘Experience Brisbane’ campaigns.
His contribution to writing in Queensland led to him being awarded the Queensland Writers Centre’s inaugural Johnno award in 2001 and a Centenary Medal in 2003. His work as a writer, in writing industry development and in support of humanitarian causes led to him being named University of Queensland Alumnus of the Year in 2006. He was also the Queensland Multicultural Champion for 2006.
He has an honours degree in Medicine from the University of Queensland, and has lived in Brisbane since migrating as an eight-year-old from Northern Ireland in 1972. London’s Mirror newspaper has called him ‘the first Aussie to make me laugh out loud since Jason Donovan’. His latest novel is Joel and Cat Set the Story Straight, co-written with Rebecca Sparrow.
Zigzag Street won a Betty Trask Award in the UK in 1998, and is currently being developed into a feature film. Bachelor Kisses was one of Who Weekly’s Books of the Year in 1998. Perfect Skin was the only novel nominated for an Australian Comedy Award in 2003, and has recently been filmed in Italy.
He has written five novels with teenage central characters. 48 Shades of Brown was awarded Book of the Year (older readers) by the Children’s Book Council in 2000, and in the US it was a Kirkus Reviews selection in its books of the year for 2004. A feature film adapted from the novel was released in Australia by Buena Vista International in August 2006, and has subsequently screened at festivals in North America and Europe. His earlier young-adult novel, After January, was also an award-winner.
After January, 48 Shades of Brown, Zigzag Street and Perfect Skin have all been successfully adapted for theatre by La Boite, and the Zigzag Street play toured nationally in 2005.
Nick Earls was the founding chair of the Australian arm of the international aid agency War Child and is now a War Child ambassador. He is or has also been patron of Kids Who Make a Difference and Hands on Art, and an honorary ambassador for both the Mater Foundation and the Abused Child Trust. On top of that, he was the face of Brisbane Marketing’s ‘Downtown Brisbane’ and ‘Experience Brisbane’ campaigns.
His contribution to writing in Queensland led to him being awarded the Queensland Writers Centre’s inaugural Johnno award in 2001 and a Centenary Medal in 2003. His work as a writer, in writing industry development and in support of humanitarian causes led to him being named University of Queensland Alumnus of the Year in 2006. He was also the Queensland Multicultural Champion for 2006.
He has an honours degree in Medicine from the University of Queensland, and has lived in Brisbane since migrating as an eight-year-old from Northern Ireland in 1972. London’s Mirror newspaper has called him ‘the first Aussie to make me laugh out loud since Jason Donovan’. His latest novel is Joel and Cat Set the Story Straight, co-written with Rebecca Sparrow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 6, 2010
It's incredibly difficult to review a book you absolutely love and convey how brilliant it is in order to convince people to read it without resorting to means such as multiple exclamation marks and caps lock. I will try, guys. I really will.
What I love so much about this book - and, now I think about it, most of Nick Earls' other YA novels, like Monica Bloom and 48 Shades Of Brown, both of which I love, almost as much as I love this book - is that it doesn't resort to big dramatic events such as death to give it emotional substance, like a lot of YA novels do. It just acts as a snapshot into a few weeks in the life of a character one summer, while he's waiting to see if he gets into university. In the meantime, he meets a girl named Fortuna. It isn't a shocking or dramatic premise, or a particularly complicated plot. But what makes it a really brilliant novel are the fantastic characters, and the wonderful, nuanced writing. It's both realistic and hilarious, and every line of dialogue is perfect.
I especially loved the short story that acts as a prologue to After January, Juliet, as well as the other parts throughout the novel that use second person. The relationship between Alex and Fortuna is lovely and wonderfully written, and at no point resorts to cliche. Every character is well-rounded, believable and unique - Alex's mother, the holiday house neighbours... Fortuna's kooky family especially. Alex was a character I really related to - the novel is written from his perspective, and he's a very introspective character. There were certain parts of the novel (I'd include an excerpt here, but I'd end up typing up pages of it) where I thought, 'You're me! But fictional! And living in the 90s!' I don't think all readers will relate to Alex, but I definitely did (and I loved Fortuna, too).
All I can say is: I really recommend you read it. It's funny, awkward, insightful and beautifully written. Every single character is brilliant. It's all kinds of wonderful, and there's no reason you shouldn't pick it up.
What I love so much about this book - and, now I think about it, most of Nick Earls' other YA novels, like Monica Bloom and 48 Shades Of Brown, both of which I love, almost as much as I love this book - is that it doesn't resort to big dramatic events such as death to give it emotional substance, like a lot of YA novels do. It just acts as a snapshot into a few weeks in the life of a character one summer, while he's waiting to see if he gets into university. In the meantime, he meets a girl named Fortuna. It isn't a shocking or dramatic premise, or a particularly complicated plot. But what makes it a really brilliant novel are the fantastic characters, and the wonderful, nuanced writing. It's both realistic and hilarious, and every line of dialogue is perfect.
I especially loved the short story that acts as a prologue to After January, Juliet, as well as the other parts throughout the novel that use second person. The relationship between Alex and Fortuna is lovely and wonderfully written, and at no point resorts to cliche. Every character is well-rounded, believable and unique - Alex's mother, the holiday house neighbours... Fortuna's kooky family especially. Alex was a character I really related to - the novel is written from his perspective, and he's a very introspective character. There were certain parts of the novel (I'd include an excerpt here, but I'd end up typing up pages of it) where I thought, 'You're me! But fictional! And living in the 90s!' I don't think all readers will relate to Alex, but I definitely did (and I loved Fortuna, too).
All I can say is: I really recommend you read it. It's funny, awkward, insightful and beautifully written. Every single character is brilliant. It's all kinds of wonderful, and there's no reason you shouldn't pick it up.
October 23, 2012
Not enough stars. Charming, funny, and just so real that I felt I was there at that fibro house at the beach.
October 22, 2012
Oh GOD what a drag to read. This book is nothing short of drivvel. I know a lot of people would argue with me but hear me out.
I originally was asked to read this because of an English assessment in school. Now, I'm okay with reading books with plots that are slow, however in this there is WAY too much irrelevant plot points. Try one point where the lead gets Fortuna into his house alone and they try to have sex but they don't. Why throw it out there if it doesn't serve a purpose? This is a part of the "story" - if I can call it that.
The plot, the protagonist meets a girl. ...Moving on.
If you REALLY want to be bored out of your mind then read this book. If - like me - you actually have taste in books, AVOID.
I originally was asked to read this because of an English assessment in school. Now, I'm okay with reading books with plots that are slow, however in this there is WAY too much irrelevant plot points. Try one point where the lead gets Fortuna into his house alone and they try to have sex but they don't. Why throw it out there if it doesn't serve a purpose? This is a part of the "story" - if I can call it that.
The plot, the protagonist meets a girl. ...Moving on.
If you REALLY want to be bored out of your mind then read this book. If - like me - you actually have taste in books, AVOID.
July 29, 2025
it was fine, but pointless
Read
October 22, 20120 Stars - that rating is truly deserving to this drivel.
This was given to me by my grade 10 English Class for me to read.
Here's the problem - too little plot. Most of the time it's just talking - nothing to advance the plot or anything - it's just talking. The closest we ever get to a plot is a kid meeting people. That's it - anything else is Nadah.
Nothing in the book is entertaining or in any way relevant to anything. With the paper being wasted on this it's almost enough to join Greenpeace.
Unless I'm being too subtle - avoid this like you'd avoid a plague.
This was given to me by my grade 10 English Class for me to read.
Here's the problem - too little plot. Most of the time it's just talking - nothing to advance the plot or anything - it's just talking. The closest we ever get to a plot is a kid meeting people. That's it - anything else is Nadah.
Nothing in the book is entertaining or in any way relevant to anything. With the paper being wasted on this it's almost enough to join Greenpeace.
Unless I'm being too subtle - avoid this like you'd avoid a plague.
August 29, 2020
Alex, having just finished Year 12, is on the cusp of a new life. He is holidaying at the family beach house in Caloundra, it is the early 90’s, and his future relies upon his upcoming University offer. He wants to do Law and the wait is nerve wracking, so his daily routine involves small moments - breakfast, newspapers, surfing. Time moves slowly.
Within a matter of a wave, and perhaps one day, everything changes. He notices a girl surfing, and then has the opportunity to talk to her. Fate swirls around the two of them and soon Alex is exploring a relationship in ways he has never experienced. In gentle, hesitant moments, the two of them are exploring the worlds of first love, possible futures and the way that every word can mean so many things. The way that adults can be mysterious. The way that love and friendship and attraction can all change your idea of slowly what is happening to you, until you are unsure that what you wanted recently is what you want now.
This gem of a novel written by Nick Earls is a homage to first love. The sweetness of Alex and F, and what happens between them, is a true gift of amazing writing. Characters with beautiful and nuanced depth, and each word perfect, has made this novel an absolute treasure. This book is mentioned by many as a young adult novel, but I believe that it is a novel for those who were young adults in the late 80’s or early 90’s.
After January is Number 5 on my list of best books of all time, and it deserves to be there.
It is a legacy bestowed upon us that resonates in so many ways.
That After January exists is something that matters. Read it today.
Within a matter of a wave, and perhaps one day, everything changes. He notices a girl surfing, and then has the opportunity to talk to her. Fate swirls around the two of them and soon Alex is exploring a relationship in ways he has never experienced. In gentle, hesitant moments, the two of them are exploring the worlds of first love, possible futures and the way that every word can mean so many things. The way that adults can be mysterious. The way that love and friendship and attraction can all change your idea of slowly what is happening to you, until you are unsure that what you wanted recently is what you want now.
This gem of a novel written by Nick Earls is a homage to first love. The sweetness of Alex and F, and what happens between them, is a true gift of amazing writing. Characters with beautiful and nuanced depth, and each word perfect, has made this novel an absolute treasure. This book is mentioned by many as a young adult novel, but I believe that it is a novel for those who were young adults in the late 80’s or early 90’s.
After January is Number 5 on my list of best books of all time, and it deserves to be there.
It is a legacy bestowed upon us that resonates in so many ways.
That After January exists is something that matters. Read it today.
October 24, 2014
What is my view on this book? This book is about a teen boy trying to get into college. It takes place over summer break and of course, he expects nothing unusual will happen. He will end up staying in his rented apartment/house for the summer and watch hockey if it is on and go body surfing because the waves are not very good. However, one day he is body surfing and a beautiful girl surfing swoops by and his life flashed before his eyes. He would go to the beach everyday just to see her. In this book he gets closer and closer to her in a relationship and the tension grows stronger.
I rated this book a 4 out of 5 because I thought this book was a very interesting and very good book. However, I would not necessarily give it a 5 because I did not love it. I feel that there was just too many slow parts that didn't really make me want to keep reading. It would go from an intense part to a non important part. The whole concept of the book really gets you moving and your heart beats fast in some parts. You feel the same as the main character. His emotions are strong. Also, the whole idea of how he gets this girl is actually very funny because he is obviously not good with girls. The main girl in the book, she always makes the first moves. After summer is a really good book and if you like romance then you will like this book. I recommended reading it.
I rated this book a 4 out of 5 because I thought this book was a very interesting and very good book. However, I would not necessarily give it a 5 because I did not love it. I feel that there was just too many slow parts that didn't really make me want to keep reading. It would go from an intense part to a non important part. The whole concept of the book really gets you moving and your heart beats fast in some parts. You feel the same as the main character. His emotions are strong. Also, the whole idea of how he gets this girl is actually very funny because he is obviously not good with girls. The main girl in the book, she always makes the first moves. After summer is a really good book and if you like romance then you will like this book. I recommended reading it.
February 27, 2018
Could've done without the odd stylistic decision of putting (other) speakers' dialogue in italics, while the main character's is not denoted at all. It was occasionally difficult to determine whether the protagonist was thinking inwardly or speaking to others, and the process of attempting to figure out which was which repeatedly jarred me out of the reading experience.
That's my only complaint, though. This book was a breath of fresh air from so much other formulaic YA. Some may not like the overall lack of any pressing issue or stress, but to me, reading this felt like being on holiday just like Alex. Every night I looked forward to reading time, so that I could be pulled back into this relaxed Australian beachhouse and be a part of the characters' meandering, easygoing activities.
The prose was beautifully poetic, to a degree I'm not accustomed to in YA, without being overbearing.
Earls is officially on my radar now.
That's my only complaint, though. This book was a breath of fresh air from so much other formulaic YA. Some may not like the overall lack of any pressing issue or stress, but to me, reading this felt like being on holiday just like Alex. Every night I looked forward to reading time, so that I could be pulled back into this relaxed Australian beachhouse and be a part of the characters' meandering, easygoing activities.
The prose was beautifully poetic, to a degree I'm not accustomed to in YA, without being overbearing.
Earls is officially on my radar now.
January 27, 2014
Mare profumo di mare...
Seconda chance che do a questo autore, ma le perplessità rimangono le stesse. In Zigzag Street gli avevo assegnato 3 stelline per il sarcasmo e l'ironia, che qui purtroppo non spiccano. Earls costruisce le sue storie praticamente sul nulla. In questo caso Alex trascorre le vacanze aspettando di sapere se verrà ammesso o meno all'universià presso cui ha fatto domanda. Mentre aspetta fa molto surf, si riposa e si innamora. Fine. L'unica cosa che salvo è il modo in cui descrive il mare, sembrava di sentire profumo di salsedine.
Prestito di mio cognato.
Seconda chance che do a questo autore, ma le perplessità rimangono le stesse. In Zigzag Street gli avevo assegnato 3 stelline per il sarcasmo e l'ironia, che qui purtroppo non spiccano. Earls costruisce le sue storie praticamente sul nulla. In questo caso Alex trascorre le vacanze aspettando di sapere se verrà ammesso o meno all'universià presso cui ha fatto domanda. Mentre aspetta fa molto surf, si riposa e si innamora. Fine. L'unica cosa che salvo è il modo in cui descrive il mare, sembrava di sentire profumo di salsedine.
Prestito di mio cognato.
February 17, 2023
Is it really healthy to put so much pressure on teenagers to choose their university course and career? The protagonist spends his whole holiday worrying about his exam results, and possible admission to med school, nearly ruining his first romance, with a woman of a lower class than his family. So much baggage for an underage kid...
July 28, 2019
For a reader in his early thirties from Brisbane who also went to UQ, there is certainly a nostalgic quality to this novel which entices.
Nick Earles’s first person narration, dialogue and characterisation is top notch.
I however found the settings lacking in immersing me in the scene (along with the repetition of the same settings) and my biggest critique is the first fifty pages.
In first person, when your main character is bored, lackadaisical and unfocused, you as a reader can’t help but being bored as you read it. As soon as Alex meets Fortuna, it gets so much more immersive.
And c’mon, I feel Earles chickened out at the end.
Nick Earles’s first person narration, dialogue and characterisation is top notch.
I however found the settings lacking in immersing me in the scene (along with the repetition of the same settings) and my biggest critique is the first fifty pages.
In first person, when your main character is bored, lackadaisical and unfocused, you as a reader can’t help but being bored as you read it. As soon as Alex meets Fortuna, it gets so much more immersive.
And c’mon, I feel Earles chickened out at the end.
July 23, 2025
I’m sure this kind of book is for some people but in general I don’t think the style and content is anything spectacular. It’s very step-by-step: today I did this. Then I went and did this. Which is so so so boring to read.
There’s also no real conflict or climate-well there’s Alex and whether he gets into uni or not-but it is not interesting enough to make an interesting plot. The whole book he is moping around being honestly a bit of an incel to start and he is just not a compelling character.
As well, Fortuna’s original mysticism around not giving Alex her name and making him guess and then giving it to him letter by letter was also such an eye roll/cringe moment.
There’s also no real conflict or climate-well there’s Alex and whether he gets into uni or not-but it is not interesting enough to make an interesting plot. The whole book he is moping around being honestly a bit of an incel to start and he is just not a compelling character.
As well, Fortuna’s original mysticism around not giving Alex her name and making him guess and then giving it to him letter by letter was also such an eye roll/cringe moment.
July 29, 2021
It was an effort to get into this book at the beginning, but once you had your mind in the book’s headspace, you stayed there.
Honestly not something that really interested me to start with, and still doesn’t now that I’ve read it. The only reason I finished it was because I had to for my degree.
Some beautiful imagery and language, but at the end of the day it’s still just another weird attempt at an Australian YA romance novel.
Honestly not something that really interested me to start with, and still doesn’t now that I’ve read it. The only reason I finished it was because I had to for my degree.
Some beautiful imagery and language, but at the end of the day it’s still just another weird attempt at an Australian YA romance novel.
October 6, 2021
This book was a DRAG to read. I only finished it because i had nothing else to do. In my opinion, there was barely a plot and was slow. As well as how conversations went it was really confusing. Not only that but i felt like i read the same lines a hundred times throughout. But i will say some of the characters really added to the story (especially Cliffe) as well as some of the emotion alex uses since we are practically the same age.
August 22, 2021
Young lust of yearning brought into sweet focus through excellent characterization and sly humour. This is a great book about wanting, waiting, and hoping- in so many ways- through the summer that is so endless when one is young and in love. Lovely writing and a really believable cast of characters make this a real summer-loving romp. Good fun.
August 10, 2025
3 ⭐️
Okay I really enjoyed the summer romance concept. I enjoyed watching Alex and Fortuna, and how they grew, I was excited to see where their story was going. However, this story was a bit of a hard read. It just dragged up by a lot and the writing didn’t keep you really engaged.
Okay I really enjoyed the summer romance concept. I enjoyed watching Alex and Fortuna, and how they grew, I was excited to see where their story was going. However, this story was a bit of a hard read. It just dragged up by a lot and the writing didn’t keep you really engaged.
May 18, 2017
I enjoyed reading it, for me in some places were slow but other than that I quite enjoyed it.
August 16, 2022
eh read it for school its fine. the lack of quotation marks is kind of evil though.
February 24, 2025
I loved this! It hit that beautiful sweet spot of YA fiction: funny, moving and evocative without being condescending or patronising.
June 29, 2025
A warm, local, summer read that reminded me of all the holidays I spent swimming and sweating.
July 26, 2025
the ending what the hell 😔😔😔
July 30, 2025
I don’t read YA (relax everyone) this was for uni BUT I cried at the end… so maybe I should get back into YA?!?
August 1, 2025
what a sweet slice of life book
March 15, 2017
2017 Popsugar Reading Challenge: a book with a month or day of the week in the title ✔️
January 23, 2016
"After January" is another great book by Nick Earls.
like in "48 Shades of Brown", Nick Earls blurs the line between thought and speech by not using any quotation marks.
i think alex delaney is a really likeable character and there are some nice little ideas in this story. i love the relationship between alex and his mum, even though it might seem minimal, it's very effectively done. i also like the little things we learn about alex in his lazy holiday life, little things we find out about his hobbies and his family.
i also liked alex's love interest and the different and unique character she and her family were. it was awesome to have alex not know her name at first, and her little game of giving him only one letter of her name a day.
it's a nice lazy story about getting ready for the future, and the break before university- before growing up and taking a new path. i think it gets a little bit boring and slowpaced at times, mainly because of the holiday and lazing around theme, so it lacks a bit of a punch/climax to really see the characters.
i liked the short little chapters at times and the recipes that were snuck in. :)
all in all, this is another lovely book by Nick Earls and i really enjoyed it. i think it captured the idea and feeling of waiting for the future to come really well.
like in "48 Shades of Brown", Nick Earls blurs the line between thought and speech by not using any quotation marks.
i think alex delaney is a really likeable character and there are some nice little ideas in this story. i love the relationship between alex and his mum, even though it might seem minimal, it's very effectively done. i also like the little things we learn about alex in his lazy holiday life, little things we find out about his hobbies and his family.
i also liked alex's love interest and the different and unique character she and her family were. it was awesome to have alex not know her name at first, and her little game of giving him only one letter of her name a day.
it's a nice lazy story about getting ready for the future, and the break before university- before growing up and taking a new path. i think it gets a little bit boring and slowpaced at times, mainly because of the holiday and lazing around theme, so it lacks a bit of a punch/climax to really see the characters.
i liked the short little chapters at times and the recipes that were snuck in. :)
all in all, this is another lovely book by Nick Earls and i really enjoyed it. i think it captured the idea and feeling of waiting for the future to come really well.
December 10, 2013
This is the first YA novel of Nick Earls' that I've read, although I've read a few of his other books and this has a similar style. It's quite easy to read but descriptive at the same time, with realistic characters you can relate to.
I agree with others that After January doesn't really have much of a storyline and could seem a bit slow-moving, but it's more character-driven than plot-driven. It's a coming-of-age story about Alex Delaney's summer after graduating from high school and waiting to find out if he's got into uni. As he does every summer, he stays with his mother in their Sunshine Coast beach house where everything seems the same as it always has, yet slightly different at the same time. When he meets a local girl, his priorities start to change.
It's a nice story, but it didn't blow me away. Many readers would relate to the mixed feelings experienced at the end of high school and the difficult decisions that follow, as well as the dramas of finally finding a girl (or boy) who's interested in you and trying to fit in with their family. Although it was first published in 1996, the story hasn't really dated. It could appeal to both boys and girls. I wonder what happened after January...
I agree with others that After January doesn't really have much of a storyline and could seem a bit slow-moving, but it's more character-driven than plot-driven. It's a coming-of-age story about Alex Delaney's summer after graduating from high school and waiting to find out if he's got into uni. As he does every summer, he stays with his mother in their Sunshine Coast beach house where everything seems the same as it always has, yet slightly different at the same time. When he meets a local girl, his priorities start to change.
It's a nice story, but it didn't blow me away. Many readers would relate to the mixed feelings experienced at the end of high school and the difficult decisions that follow, as well as the dramas of finally finding a girl (or boy) who's interested in you and trying to fit in with their family. Although it was first published in 1996, the story hasn't really dated. It could appeal to both boys and girls. I wonder what happened after January...
August 1, 2015
I picked this book up hoping for an easy, romantic read. The perspective of a romantic novel from a male perspective was particularly appealing, as this is rarely the case, and I was curious as to how it might differ from the typical female protagonist romances.
Much to my disappointment, the style was unbearable. There was no actual dialogue! It read as if I was sitting across the table from a long-winded friend who was telling me a story that could have been interesting had it not been told so poorly. After about 50 pages, I stopped reading, because I was so frustrated with the strange format and tell-y nature of the tale. By that time, not much had happened of particular interest other than some moping and back story, so I didn't feel the need to spend much more time with it.
This might not be an issue for everyone. I'm often bothered by editing mistakes, bad grammar, typos, and strange writing styles, but if you're not, there's a good chance you might actually enjoy this book.
Much to my disappointment, the style was unbearable. There was no actual dialogue! It read as if I was sitting across the table from a long-winded friend who was telling me a story that could have been interesting had it not been told so poorly. After about 50 pages, I stopped reading, because I was so frustrated with the strange format and tell-y nature of the tale. By that time, not much had happened of particular interest other than some moping and back story, so I didn't feel the need to spend much more time with it.
This might not be an issue for everyone. I'm often bothered by editing mistakes, bad grammar, typos, and strange writing styles, but if you're not, there's a good chance you might actually enjoy this book.
August 3, 2011
After January was a very enjoyable book to read. It had the themes of summer, love, acceptance, and self identity. It follows a 17 year old boy called Alex and his summer at his beach house that he spends with his mother evey year. This year is different, Alex has 16 days until he gets his results back to see if he makes it into his law degree that he wants to pursue in but there's this girl who might make him change his opinion on this. I throughly enjoyed reading this novel and would recommend this too anyone who loves summer.
December 5, 2011
I cannot believe how much I liked this book since I had just randomly picked it up at the library. The characters were really likeable and different. They were both really reserved and had great families. It's really clean too. The teenagers drink but it's because their parents keep giving it to them haha. The writing style was different to but I loved it. I read other reviews and you either love it or you hate it. Everything was really straightforward which is good for me since I find myself skimming the boring descriptive paragraphs in other novels. I would recommend this book.
March 20, 2015
I remember really enjoying 48 Shades of Brown about a decade or so ago. So when I saw another Nick Earls book, I anticipated something funny, smart, and relatable. The protagonist in this story is spending a few weeks of his summer at his vacation home waiting for word on his future at university. It's a novel about waiting. Unfortunately, that doesn't make for a very gripping storyline. He meets a mysterious girl with an odd hippie family, and she helps him wait. There were a few good moments.
5/64 tbr box 2015.
5/64 tbr box 2015.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews