The Personal Touch

by Caroline B. Cooney

When Tim and his wealthy parents spend the summer in her town, Sunny is torn between her growing love for him and her hatred of the family's snobbishness

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction

188 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Caroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com

Reviews

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

This book was so cute. I just loved the adversarial relationship between the two in this book. It was so awesome how she called TIM Terrible Infuriating Monster. And the one liners were awesome. I haven't read this book in a while, but I am sure it's a much better romance than some of the grown up ones I've read. Just a classic book.

[Paula Phillips]

Originally published in 1982, Caroline B. Cooney's books are being re-released and reprinted and are now considered classic romance. The Personal Touch reminds readers of what was considered a teen romance book back in the 80's. A book that is clean and sweet. Growing up, Sunny had a love/hate relationship with Summer as Summer brought on freedom from school, but the invasion of her horrible neighbor Tim as his family always came to stay in the New England town over Summer break. Tim has always been a nuisance and causing mayhem and pranks. It seems though that people can change as now that they are seventeen which means jobs and work on the horizon and possibly a young budding romance. Sparks are flying between Tim and Sunny. Will they see each other in a brand new light this Summer? With a summer filled with work, work, and more work, will the pair get to spend time with one another or will this be a fleeting romance between the two?
Find out in this Classic Teen Romance "The Personal Touch" by Caroline B. Cooney, a reminder that teen books don't always have to be filled to the brim with sex and drugs as The Personal Touch is a good clean, wholesome YA read.

[Dana]

Another fun Cooney tween romance. I got this and I'm Not Your Other Half in a pair and I must say that I enjoyed this book more. These books were a nice blast from the past for me, I grew up on Carline B. Cooney books. Unlike many childhood enjoyments that turn stale once we have reached adulthood theses stories were still an enjoyable read.

I would recommend this book for girls between the ages of 12-14.


Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Pastel Paperback]

Even an early, not quite there yet Caroline B Cooney is still a Cooney and so of course I enjoyed this one.

In her typical style, the book has a great setting and description: the small New England coastal town of Sea's Edge. A tourist spot from June to August, the locals, including our main girl Sunny, are a bit resentful over the invasion of their picturesque home from the summer crowd. Tim and his family live in the large home built right in front of Sunny's, and they've always bickered and hated each other.

But this year...Tim comes back hot, and Sunny suddenly has a crush.

I loved the summer vibes. Sunny works part time in a used bookstore, and helps out her mom with her outdoor accessory store called Chair Fair. There's a great Fourth of July scene and fun beach moments. And of course lots of back and forth enemies to lovers with Tim and Sunny, and some deeper class issues and family drama. For a First Love Silhouette, this was a cute gem.

[Adeline]

I was intrigued by the fact that it’s an older ya book (1982) and it was actually kinda cute. The cover is just so fun

[Christina Reeder]

Not a great read at all. Author had it out for heavy people. The gal in the story was self absorbed most of the way through. Save your time and pass on this one.

[Reading with Cats]

Wow, this is a really, really awful book. First, we have the female MC who’s an empty-headed, BOY!-obsessed twit. It was excruciating being stuck in her head for a hundred something pages. But then we get to the nasty, persistent fat-shaming. The author includes nameless overweight characters (more than once) for the sole purpose of making fun of their size. There was literally no other reason for their presence other than for the author to let us know how much she hates fat people. No, just no. I want no part of this author’s unkindness and intolerance. I highly recommend taking a pass. I wish I could give this deeply shitty book zero stars.

[Melanie Wissel]

YA A good,enjoyable read. The former terror of a summer neighbor boy and the girl next door story in a summer beach town… things change, both good and bad. A sweet look at young love and life.

[Gale]

Read in 2007.