Summer of My First Love

Summer of My First Love #1

by Isabelle Holland

After spending a year in the hospital following a car accident, seventeen-year-old Sarah surprises her family by getting a job in the town where the family has a summer cottage, but "townies" still think of her as a "summer" person, especially Steve, who seems to be interested in Sarah only when no one else is around.

Genres: Young Adult

Mass Market Paperback

First published July 12, 1981

About the author

Isabelle Christian Holland (born June 16, 1920 in Basel, Switzerland — died February 9, 2002) was an author of children and adult fiction. Her father was the American Consul in Liverpool, England during WWII. She moved to America in 1940 due to the war. She wrote Gothic novels, adult mysteries, romantic thrillers, and many books for children and young adults. She wrote over 50 books in her lifetime, and was still working at the time of her death at age 81 in New York City.

Two of her novels have been made into movies:

Bump in the Night, 1991,
The Man Without a Face, 1993

Both of these novels deal with issues or allegations of pedophilia.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for the old school nostalgia YA romance. This has such a complex and layered story for the genre. A rushed ending but I loved the undercurrent of feminism.

[Reading with Cats · Rating 2 out of 5]

The 70s were truly a different world:
-A mom hires a babysitter sight unseen.
-Said babysitter decides that the best way to tell twins (a boy and a girl) apart is to forcibly take off their pants. Twice. (Honestly, this was really upsetting and gross and I nearly DNF’d here.)
-Babysitter then falls asleep while she’s supposed to be watching two little children at the ocean. Twice.
-Sarah’s parents offer her date, who is driving btw, his choice of bourbon or Scotch.
-Sarah hitchhikes and is not murdered.
-Sarah has access to safe and legal abortion.

I did not love this. Steve is a jackass, but Sarah is a spoiled, immature twat (who cries *constantly*). I’m just glad my beloved Charles doesn’t end up with her. Yet.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book about 20 years ago, and it was the first book that I ever stayed up all night to read. Thought I'd try it again.

[Carrie Pogue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The very first book I ever read.... 7th grade... Fell in love, re read it a year ago and I understand a lot more now almost 20 years later. Love this book