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A & L Do Summer
I’d like to say something clever, but my tongue is paralyzed. This guy is tall and built and—okay, maybe he’s not exactly handsome. Wait, that’s not true. He is exactly handsome. From ten feet away I can see the electric blue of his eyes. All of that put together makes him the Superman of redheads.
After a year in rural Cottonwood Creek, Iowa, city girl Laurel is still adjusting to a place where parties take place in barns, guys ride around in pickup trucks, and a killer senior prank involves getting pigs into the principal’s office. Fortunately, she has her best friend Aspen, an Iowa native, to show her around. The real problem is that neither the country girl nor the city slicker have boyfriends—or any prospects for getting them. Clearly, they need to raise their profile—and they have a summer to do so.
After a year in rural Cottonwood Creek, Iowa, city girl Laurel is still adjusting to a place where parties take place in barns, guys ride around in pickup trucks, and a killer senior prank involves getting pigs into the principal’s office. Fortunately, she has her best friend Aspen, an Iowa native, to show her around. The real problem is that neither the country girl nor the city slicker have boyfriends—or any prospects for getting them. Clearly, they need to raise their profile—and they have a summer to do so.
274 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
4 people are currently reading
484 people want to read
About the author
Jan Blazanin
2 books27 followersJan Blazanin, a former reading/language teacher, lives in Waukee, Iowa, with her life partner Mike. When she's not working on her current writing project, Jan teaches creative writing classes for adults and students in grades 5-12. Jan's interests include fitness, prairie restoration, and animals of all sizes and shapes--even snakes! She writes with the assistance and approval of her 2 dogs and 2 cats.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 23, 2013
I loved "A & L Do Summer" so much! :D Both the main characters are hilarious - I was laughing out loud while reading it! Aspen and Laurel want to have an eventful summer before their last year of high school, and they definitely get that! I love their friendship, and the characters in this book just seem so genuine. The things Aspen thinks or talks about with Laurel are things I could totally imagine myself thinking and talking about, and I find that level of realness uncommon in books! The relationship between Aspen and her older brother Manny was hilarious too. And of course, Clay was dreamy. :) I wish I could give this book 6 stars because it's that good! I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys hilarious books with great friendship, witty dialogue, awesome characters, cute romance, and lots of adventure!
August 5, 2018
A nice shot in the arm of summer antics that simply must be read in season, so as to both better empathize with the heat and remind yourself to have your own summer adventures (or compare the ones you've already had). It perfectly captures the feel of both a small rural not-much-to-do-here Midwestern town, and what it's like to be a teenage girl in one who doesn't have any of the typical teen experiences, other than a summer job in fast food, either under her belt or on the immediate horizon.
When multiple early chapters were given over to preparation and hosting of a graduation party, I knew I was in the right place. I too remember days of cleaning everything for hours before People were going to be there. And the similarities to my own adolescence don't end there.
I really, really loved the titular Aspen & Laurel, specifically how they were rising seniors who acted a few years younger than their age (such teens exist, in all their goofy innocence!), and how Laurel could not be swayed to the vapid popular girls' side at the expense of her best and very unpopular friend for love or social capital. I also loved Aspen's big fluffy dog Carmine and his penchant for following her on all her adventures, invited or not. Even her parents are awesome; though they spend most of the book dishing out punishment, there is clearly a lot of love between her & them.
Plus, at one point she gets herself blackmailed into a job pushing a pet skunk around the neighborhood in a stroller. That is the kind of zany adventure you find all over the place in this novel. A final great thing is that even though there is some flirting and scheming to get boyfriends, there are no actual proper dating adventures this summer; for these girls, friendship is paramount.
There is something jarring, though, about the fact that their not infrequent run-ins with the police are played largely for laughs (like, as far as being arrested for mischief goes, they are about as far from juvenile delinquents as you can get), yet at the same time, they're terrified of bullies who appear capable of actual violent criminal assault, and yet are not on any adults' warning radar? Those encounters torpedo the enthusiastic optimism so fast it's like I'm suddenly in a different book.
Also, it's kind of irritating that her older brother always gets away with sneaking out, getting drunk and hooking up with girls while she can't seem to leave the house after sunset without ending up in a squad car and grounded/assigned menial labor for life.
Edit: You know what, after thinking it over for a few weeks, I am brimming with such positive memories of this reading experience that now that I know what to expect of it, I don't think I would mind the parts I complained about at all, and would happily read it again. It is just such a quintessential summer story!
When multiple early chapters were given over to preparation and hosting of a graduation party, I knew I was in the right place. I too remember days of cleaning everything for hours before People were going to be there. And the similarities to my own adolescence don't end there.
I really, really loved the titular Aspen & Laurel, specifically how they were rising seniors who acted a few years younger than their age (such teens exist, in all their goofy innocence!), and how Laurel could not be swayed to the vapid popular girls' side at the expense of her best and very unpopular friend for love or social capital. I also loved Aspen's big fluffy dog Carmine and his penchant for following her on all her adventures, invited or not. Even her parents are awesome; though they spend most of the book dishing out punishment, there is clearly a lot of love between her & them.
Plus, at one point she gets herself blackmailed into a job pushing a pet skunk around the neighborhood in a stroller. That is the kind of zany adventure you find all over the place in this novel. A final great thing is that even though there is some flirting and scheming to get boyfriends, there are no actual proper dating adventures this summer; for these girls, friendship is paramount.
There is something jarring, though, about the fact that their not infrequent run-ins with the police are played largely for laughs (like, as far as being arrested for mischief goes, they are about as far from juvenile delinquents as you can get), yet at the same time, they're terrified of bullies who appear capable of actual violent criminal assault, and yet are not on any adults' warning radar? Those encounters torpedo the enthusiastic optimism so fast it's like I'm suddenly in a different book.
Also, it's kind of irritating that her older brother always gets away with sneaking out, getting drunk and hooking up with girls while she can't seem to leave the house after sunset without ending up in a squad car and grounded/assigned menial labor for life.
Edit: You know what, after thinking it over for a few weeks, I am brimming with such positive memories of this reading experience that now that I know what to expect of it, I don't think I would mind the parts I complained about at all, and would happily read it again. It is just such a quintessential summer story!
April 8, 2011
What’s interesting about this book’s description is that it sets you up for a completely different story. For me, I thought the story would focus on Laurel and her transition from city life to the country. At first I was confused and then pleasantly surprised when I realized this was Aspen’s story. A & L Do Summer focuses on the summer before Aspen and Laurel’s senior year of high school. Laurel wants to gain more notoriety before senior year, while Aspen just really wants a boy to be interested in her. She goes along with Laurel’s schemes until she finally realizes that instead of trying to fit her life into this perfect, stereotypical mould, she should just accept it for what it is in order to be truly happy.
Aspen and Laurel are the perfect duo. I particularly love Aspen’s sense of humor and her sarcastic wit. She is the perfect example of the semi-rebellious high school junior – someone extremely curious and willing to try new things, despite the consequences. Laurel could have easily fallen into the annoyingly beautiful, yet oddly unpopular stereotype always written into young adult novels – you know, the flawless best friend of the narrator meant to make the narrator more relatable – but she doesn’t. Instead, Laurel is hysterical and makes so many mistakes it’s hard not to feel bad for her most of the time. I like that she has the desire to be popular – honestly, it’s high school, and who doesn’t? – but she realizes the girls she considers “popular” are really just annoying and fake and that her friendship with Aspen is much more meaningful. Their friendship is so wonderfully captured in the pages of A & L Do Summer that I think everyone will find them relatable in some way.
The best thing about A & L Do Summer, though, is how realistic it is. The book is more focused on character development than plot, which I find refreshing. It reminds me of Phyllis Reynold Naylor’s Alice series, in that way. Essentially, these characters aren’t squeaky clean. They sneak out, drink, and even end up getting arrested (although in their small town, it’s more just to make an example of them than because they’re actually in trouble). Just when you think Aspen can’t possibly get into any more trouble, she does. And then she does again. And again. Her parents react just as any parents would and she faces a lot of consequences. But she also learns a lot about herself and about friendship in the process. It was a treat to read about someone making some of the same mistakes I have and I was able to laugh along with Aspen through most of them.
While I mentioned the story isn’t plot-heavy, there definitely is a plot. Aspen and Laurel face off against the villains of the story numerous times – three boys who gave me goose bumps. So creepy. I was probably more afraid of them than Aspen was. And of course there’s the love interest, Clay, who also happens to be Aspen’s brother’s best friend. Clay is a perfect gentleman – and his rugged good looks don’t hurt – but Aspen’s brother is the one who stole my heart. His relationship with Aspen is the perfect mix of verbal sparring, practical joking, and older-brother-heroics; he bails Aspen out of more than one sticky situation, making me wish he was my older brother. And despite their small fights and age difference, he makes it clear how much he cares about Aspen, especially at the end. It’s easy to see why Laurel has such a huge crush on him.
Basically, A & L Do Summer is the perfect summer read. Every girl will find something relatable about Aspen or Laurel and it’s impossible not to laugh at all the trouble they get into. I mean, walking a skunk around in a baby stroller? What’s not funny about that?
Aspen and Laurel are the perfect duo. I particularly love Aspen’s sense of humor and her sarcastic wit. She is the perfect example of the semi-rebellious high school junior – someone extremely curious and willing to try new things, despite the consequences. Laurel could have easily fallen into the annoyingly beautiful, yet oddly unpopular stereotype always written into young adult novels – you know, the flawless best friend of the narrator meant to make the narrator more relatable – but she doesn’t. Instead, Laurel is hysterical and makes so many mistakes it’s hard not to feel bad for her most of the time. I like that she has the desire to be popular – honestly, it’s high school, and who doesn’t? – but she realizes the girls she considers “popular” are really just annoying and fake and that her friendship with Aspen is much more meaningful. Their friendship is so wonderfully captured in the pages of A & L Do Summer that I think everyone will find them relatable in some way.
The best thing about A & L Do Summer, though, is how realistic it is. The book is more focused on character development than plot, which I find refreshing. It reminds me of Phyllis Reynold Naylor’s Alice series, in that way. Essentially, these characters aren’t squeaky clean. They sneak out, drink, and even end up getting arrested (although in their small town, it’s more just to make an example of them than because they’re actually in trouble). Just when you think Aspen can’t possibly get into any more trouble, she does. And then she does again. And again. Her parents react just as any parents would and she faces a lot of consequences. But she also learns a lot about herself and about friendship in the process. It was a treat to read about someone making some of the same mistakes I have and I was able to laugh along with Aspen through most of them.
While I mentioned the story isn’t plot-heavy, there definitely is a plot. Aspen and Laurel face off against the villains of the story numerous times – three boys who gave me goose bumps. So creepy. I was probably more afraid of them than Aspen was. And of course there’s the love interest, Clay, who also happens to be Aspen’s brother’s best friend. Clay is a perfect gentleman – and his rugged good looks don’t hurt – but Aspen’s brother is the one who stole my heart. His relationship with Aspen is the perfect mix of verbal sparring, practical joking, and older-brother-heroics; he bails Aspen out of more than one sticky situation, making me wish he was my older brother. And despite their small fights and age difference, he makes it clear how much he cares about Aspen, especially at the end. It’s easy to see why Laurel has such a huge crush on him.
Basically, A & L Do Summer is the perfect summer read. Every girl will find something relatable about Aspen or Laurel and it’s impossible not to laugh at all the trouble they get into. I mean, walking a skunk around in a baby stroller? What’s not funny about that?
October 10, 2011
Originally posted on http://www.yareads.com
What’s interesting about this book’s description is that it sets you up for a completely different story. For me, I thought the story would focus on Laurel and her transition from city life to the country. At first I was confused and then pleasantly surprised when I realized this was Aspen’s story. A & L Do Summer focuses on the summer before Aspen and Laurel’s senior year of high school. Laurel wants to gain more notoriety before senior year, while Aspen just really wants a boy to be interested in her. She goes along with Laurel’s schemes until she finally realizes that instead of trying to fit her life into this perfect, stereotypical mould, she should just accept it for what it is in order to be truly happy.
Aspen and Laurel are the perfect duo. I particularly love Aspen’s sense of humor and her sarcastic wit. She is the perfect example of the semi-rebellious high school junior – someone extremely curious and willing to try new things, despite the consequences. Laurel could have easily fallen into the annoyingly beautiful, yet oddly unpopular stereotype always written into young adult novels – you know, the flawless best friend of the narrator meant to make the narrator more relatable – but she doesn’t. Instead, Laurel is hysterical and makes so many mistakes it’s hard not to feel bad for her most of the time. I like that she has the desire to be popular – honestly, it’s high school, and who doesn’t? – but she realizes the girls she considers “popular” are really just annoying and fake and that her friendship with Aspen is much more meaningful. Their friendship is so wonderfully captured in the pages of A & L Do Summer that I think everyone will find them relatable in some way.
The best thing about A & L Do Summer, though, is how realistic it is. The book is more focused on character development than plot, which I find refreshing. It reminds me of Phyllis Reynold Naylor’s Alice series, in that way. Essentially, these characters aren’t squeaky clean. They sneak out, drink, and even end up getting arrested (although in their small town, it’s more just to make an example of them than because they’re actually in trouble). Just when you think Aspen can’t possibly get into any more trouble, she does. And then she does again. And again. Her parents react just as any parents would and she faces a lot of consequences. But she also learns a lot about herself and about friendship in the process. It was a treat to read about someone making some of the same mistakes I have and I was able to laugh along with Aspen through most of them.
While I mentioned the story isn’t plot-heavy, there definitely is a plot. Aspen and Laurel face off against the villains of the story numerous times – three boys who gave me goose bumps. So creepy. I was probably more afraid of them than Aspen was. And of course there’s the love interest, Clay, who also happens to be Aspen’s brother’s best friend. Clay is a perfect gentleman – and his rugged good looks don’t hurt – but Aspen’s brother is the one who stole my heart. His relationship with Aspen is the perfect mix of verbal sparring, practical joking, and older-brother-heroics; he bails Aspen out of more than one sticky situation, making me wish he was my older brother. And despite their small fights and age difference, he makes it clear how much he cares about Aspen, especially at the end. It’s easy to see why Laurel has such a huge crush on him.
Basically, A & L Do Summer is the perfect summer read. Every girl will find something relatable about Aspen or Laurel and it’s impossible not to laugh at all the trouble they get into. I mean, walking a skunk around in a baby stroller? What’s not funny about that?
What’s interesting about this book’s description is that it sets you up for a completely different story. For me, I thought the story would focus on Laurel and her transition from city life to the country. At first I was confused and then pleasantly surprised when I realized this was Aspen’s story. A & L Do Summer focuses on the summer before Aspen and Laurel’s senior year of high school. Laurel wants to gain more notoriety before senior year, while Aspen just really wants a boy to be interested in her. She goes along with Laurel’s schemes until she finally realizes that instead of trying to fit her life into this perfect, stereotypical mould, she should just accept it for what it is in order to be truly happy.
Aspen and Laurel are the perfect duo. I particularly love Aspen’s sense of humor and her sarcastic wit. She is the perfect example of the semi-rebellious high school junior – someone extremely curious and willing to try new things, despite the consequences. Laurel could have easily fallen into the annoyingly beautiful, yet oddly unpopular stereotype always written into young adult novels – you know, the flawless best friend of the narrator meant to make the narrator more relatable – but she doesn’t. Instead, Laurel is hysterical and makes so many mistakes it’s hard not to feel bad for her most of the time. I like that she has the desire to be popular – honestly, it’s high school, and who doesn’t? – but she realizes the girls she considers “popular” are really just annoying and fake and that her friendship with Aspen is much more meaningful. Their friendship is so wonderfully captured in the pages of A & L Do Summer that I think everyone will find them relatable in some way.
The best thing about A & L Do Summer, though, is how realistic it is. The book is more focused on character development than plot, which I find refreshing. It reminds me of Phyllis Reynold Naylor’s Alice series, in that way. Essentially, these characters aren’t squeaky clean. They sneak out, drink, and even end up getting arrested (although in their small town, it’s more just to make an example of them than because they’re actually in trouble). Just when you think Aspen can’t possibly get into any more trouble, she does. And then she does again. And again. Her parents react just as any parents would and she faces a lot of consequences. But she also learns a lot about herself and about friendship in the process. It was a treat to read about someone making some of the same mistakes I have and I was able to laugh along with Aspen through most of them.
While I mentioned the story isn’t plot-heavy, there definitely is a plot. Aspen and Laurel face off against the villains of the story numerous times – three boys who gave me goose bumps. So creepy. I was probably more afraid of them than Aspen was. And of course there’s the love interest, Clay, who also happens to be Aspen’s brother’s best friend. Clay is a perfect gentleman – and his rugged good looks don’t hurt – but Aspen’s brother is the one who stole my heart. His relationship with Aspen is the perfect mix of verbal sparring, practical joking, and older-brother-heroics; he bails Aspen out of more than one sticky situation, making me wish he was my older brother. And despite their small fights and age difference, he makes it clear how much he cares about Aspen, especially at the end. It’s easy to see why Laurel has such a huge crush on him.
Basically, A & L Do Summer is the perfect summer read. Every girl will find something relatable about Aspen or Laurel and it’s impossible not to laugh at all the trouble they get into. I mean, walking a skunk around in a baby stroller? What’s not funny about that?
July 10, 2011
It's the summer before senior year and best friends Aspen and Laurel are craving some attention. They're tired of being single and nobodys at their school, so they decide to change just that. Aspen has lived the Iowa country-life since she was born, but Laurel moved to Cottonwood Creek from Chicago just last summer. She's still getting the hang of things. Over the course of three months, a lot happens in such a boring, small, country town...
From the summary on the back of the book, I expected this to be another story about a girl switching from city-life to country-life, but I couldn't have been more wrong. For one thing, the story isn't even told from Laurel's perspective - but from Aspen's. The best friends have a tight bond and the basis of the book was centered on their friendship. For awhile, I couldn't quite figure out what the plot of the novel was. It seemed like every few chapters a big event would happen, and the chapters in between would just be fillers. However, when these said big events would take place, they were so much fun to read! Aspen and Laurel have trouble lurking in their shadows because they get grounded more times in one summer than I've ever been in my life. Their little adventures were clever and real, and I liked seeing how country girls spend their time surrounded by chickens, pigs, and farm boys.
Probably the best thing about this book is the realism. After reading so many romantic paranormal books lately, with plots and character bonds that could never happen, this novel was a nice change. The guy that catches Aspen's attention, Clay, is just your average farm boy. He doesn't have chiseled abs and a Greek God's face, but instead has freckles and red hair. Their interest in each other was merely a side story and wasn't that developed in the book. I liked how they weren't automatically in love with each other, like many YA couples are, but I do wish that their almost-romance could have played a bigger part in the story.
This was a light, breezy, and fun read for the summer. It's not a book that will stick with me for many years, but was still enjoyable. The author seemed to stay in the shallow end of the pool, and only near the end of the book did she start dipping her toes into the deep end. There were some laugh-at-loud moments that kept me grinning (and my family giving me weird looks) and the novel held my interest. There was a mix of interesting characters, not to mention a group of infuriating bullies who will make your skin itch, a cute little romance, and a nice, realistic plot.
From the summary on the back of the book, I expected this to be another story about a girl switching from city-life to country-life, but I couldn't have been more wrong. For one thing, the story isn't even told from Laurel's perspective - but from Aspen's. The best friends have a tight bond and the basis of the book was centered on their friendship. For awhile, I couldn't quite figure out what the plot of the novel was. It seemed like every few chapters a big event would happen, and the chapters in between would just be fillers. However, when these said big events would take place, they were so much fun to read! Aspen and Laurel have trouble lurking in their shadows because they get grounded more times in one summer than I've ever been in my life. Their little adventures were clever and real, and I liked seeing how country girls spend their time surrounded by chickens, pigs, and farm boys.
Probably the best thing about this book is the realism. After reading so many romantic paranormal books lately, with plots and character bonds that could never happen, this novel was a nice change. The guy that catches Aspen's attention, Clay, is just your average farm boy. He doesn't have chiseled abs and a Greek God's face, but instead has freckles and red hair. Their interest in each other was merely a side story and wasn't that developed in the book. I liked how they weren't automatically in love with each other, like many YA couples are, but I do wish that their almost-romance could have played a bigger part in the story.
This was a light, breezy, and fun read for the summer. It's not a book that will stick with me for many years, but was still enjoyable. The author seemed to stay in the shallow end of the pool, and only near the end of the book did she start dipping her toes into the deep end. There were some laugh-at-loud moments that kept me grinning (and my family giving me weird looks) and the novel held my interest. There was a mix of interesting characters, not to mention a group of infuriating bullies who will make your skin itch, a cute little romance, and a nice, realistic plot.
May 6, 2011
Every summer comes the wave of summer books, the ones that promise funny, light reads with their pretty covers, and with Jan Blazanin’s newest book A & L Do Summer the reader receives that and much, much more to say the least.
Aspen, one city girl stuck in the country, and Laurel, a longtime country girl, have always been the girls to fall under the radar in their small country town, but this summer will change everything for the better. To begin this, Aspen has a great first plan involving one prank, pigs, and the principal’s office. Unfortunately, their prank idea ends up in the wrong hands and involves one late night clean up that starts their summer off to a less than satisfactory start. However, this does not get them down; instead, they plan to try harder. From summer jobs involving interesting drive thru service, to walking skunks in strollers, to parties and boys, this summer will surely be unforgettable. Though, will it land Aspen and Laurel on the radar once and for all, or will it leave them even farther down on the social ladder? Only time and more pages will tell in this funny and easy read.
Adorable and funny, Aspen and Laurel were two main characters that I could not help but adore. Their antics involving being noticed were hilarious; their friendship was three-dimensional and relatable to every girl or boy who has a crazy best friend; and best of all, their personalities jumped off the page and came to life. The secondary characters also added a great deal of fun to this light read such as Clay, Laurel’s love interest, Manny, Laurel’s brother who Aspen cannot help but love from afar, and Miss Simmons, the typical crazy old skunk lady.
While the plot of this was too complicated or original, it was easy to fall into, because of the different events that occurred as well as the spark the characters brought. I enjoyed seeing Aspen and Laurel’s everyday lives depicted on page, and I especially loved seeing all the trouble they got themselves into. Several scenes had me laughing aloud, which always makes me love a book even more.
Finally, Jan Blazanin’s writing has definitely improved in this one. From the story building to the character and plot development, everything was right on key, and this has made me even more eager to read more by her.
Full of spunk and sparks, A & L Do Summer will have you giggling to yourself as these country girls make a name for themselves.
Grade: A-
Aspen, one city girl stuck in the country, and Laurel, a longtime country girl, have always been the girls to fall under the radar in their small country town, but this summer will change everything for the better. To begin this, Aspen has a great first plan involving one prank, pigs, and the principal’s office. Unfortunately, their prank idea ends up in the wrong hands and involves one late night clean up that starts their summer off to a less than satisfactory start. However, this does not get them down; instead, they plan to try harder. From summer jobs involving interesting drive thru service, to walking skunks in strollers, to parties and boys, this summer will surely be unforgettable. Though, will it land Aspen and Laurel on the radar once and for all, or will it leave them even farther down on the social ladder? Only time and more pages will tell in this funny and easy read.
Adorable and funny, Aspen and Laurel were two main characters that I could not help but adore. Their antics involving being noticed were hilarious; their friendship was three-dimensional and relatable to every girl or boy who has a crazy best friend; and best of all, their personalities jumped off the page and came to life. The secondary characters also added a great deal of fun to this light read such as Clay, Laurel’s love interest, Manny, Laurel’s brother who Aspen cannot help but love from afar, and Miss Simmons, the typical crazy old skunk lady.
While the plot of this was too complicated or original, it was easy to fall into, because of the different events that occurred as well as the spark the characters brought. I enjoyed seeing Aspen and Laurel’s everyday lives depicted on page, and I especially loved seeing all the trouble they got themselves into. Several scenes had me laughing aloud, which always makes me love a book even more.
Finally, Jan Blazanin’s writing has definitely improved in this one. From the story building to the character and plot development, everything was right on key, and this has made me even more eager to read more by her.
Full of spunk and sparks, A & L Do Summer will have you giggling to yourself as these country girls make a name for themselves.
Grade: A-
November 4, 2010
After a year in rural Cottonwood Creek, Iowa, city girl Laurel is still adjusting to a place where parties take place in barns, guys ride around in pickup trucks, and a killer senior prank involves getting pigs into the principal's office. Fortunately, she has her best friend Aspen on her side. The real problem is that neither the country girl nor the city slicker have boyfriends, nor any prospects for getting them. Clearly, they need to raise their profiles--and they have a summer to do it.
(Synopsis courtesy of Egmont USA)
(Synopsis courtesy of Egmont USA)
May 22, 2011
A terrific summer (or anytime) read. Aspen has a crazy-funny friend named Laurel; a brother with a lot of depth; a dog with a lot of chutzpa; and a love interest who is "handsome, built, and envornmentally aware." What more can a reader ask for in a charmingly written story about two high school girls "doing" their last summer? A great read for teens. But also a great read for people who were once teens. It would make a light and refreshing book club choice for July when nobody really wants to tackle THE BLIND ASSASSIN or CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.
August 5, 2011
A & L DO SUMMER is a super fun read. Jan Blazanin's writing is finely crafted. Her characters are smart and funny. Aspen (the A in A & L and the book's narrator), in particular, is a delight. If you're looking for a YA story with humor, farmyard pranks, and a hunky love interest, I recommend this charming novel.
April 5, 2012
Put this on your summer reading list! You'll love the trouble these two main characters get into trying to create a memorable year. Full of humor and heart, it will have teenagers everywhere evaluating their own year, and it gives the rest of us a chance to look back and remember. Excellent plot and crafting.
September 2, 2011
Aspen and Laurel are practical nobodies in their small town of Cottonwood Creek, Iowa. In their attempts to make this summer the best summer ever, Aspen and Laurel will talk dirty to customers, take a skunk for a stroll, puke their guts out, steal a chicken, and you know, save a neighbor’s life. All in the name of summer. And maybe by the end of the summer everyone will know their names.
While I know that A&L Do Summer is far from being the most realistic contemporary read, there’s outlandishly fun about this read that made this a great end of summer. My summer was far from exciting with school starting in a little over week from now, but I was able to experience a wild vicariously from A&L. A&L Do Summer was a hilarious read with an ending that vindicated Aspen and Laurel rightfully. With a happily ever after, A&L Do Summer would be a great way to end the summer.
Aspen is the more level-headed person in the relationship where as Laurel is always out looking for something to do. I wished Aspen had more of a back-bone and I wished Laurel would think things through, but together they make one heck of a pair. The yin to the yang.
With every good-feel book, however, there is a lack of development. The side-characters were one-dimensional and the villains were flat. I wasn’t able to pick up an array of emotions from them as I did from Aspen. Even Laurel seemed to be one noted.
Despite this I would recommend A&L Do Summer to readers looking for something quick, fun, and comedic.
While I know that A&L Do Summer is far from being the most realistic contemporary read, there’s outlandishly fun about this read that made this a great end of summer. My summer was far from exciting with school starting in a little over week from now, but I was able to experience a wild vicariously from A&L. A&L Do Summer was a hilarious read with an ending that vindicated Aspen and Laurel rightfully. With a happily ever after, A&L Do Summer would be a great way to end the summer.
Aspen is the more level-headed person in the relationship where as Laurel is always out looking for something to do. I wished Aspen had more of a back-bone and I wished Laurel would think things through, but together they make one heck of a pair. The yin to the yang.
With every good-feel book, however, there is a lack of development. The side-characters were one-dimensional and the villains were flat. I wasn’t able to pick up an array of emotions from them as I did from Aspen. Even Laurel seemed to be one noted.
Despite this I would recommend A&L Do Summer to readers looking for something quick, fun, and comedic.
September 29, 2011
A & L Do Summer by Jan Blazanin is definitely my kinda book. It is full of hillbilly-goodness and it is absolutely hysterical. Seriously, it isn’t gonna add any depth to your life – but it will make you laugh your butt off.
From pigs being accidentally set loose in a school to falling in pet-love with a chicken scheduled to be served up for dinner, this book delivers the originality.
Laurel is new to small town Iowa, but has become close with a native named Aspen. Aspen is determined to score them both spots in the popular crowd – which, in turn, should score them both boyfriends. But, as we know, these things never go according to plan. As they navigate through after-school jobs and drunken high school parties, disaster and embarrassment follow them everywhere. Also: things actually take a pretty sinister turn. You’ll be surprised by the level of violence they accidentally find themselves exposed to. I certainly was!
Anyway – bottom line. I loved Lauren, Aspen and all their crazy plans. This book was so much fun to read, I found myself laughing constantly. There isn’t a lot of plot or character development, and it definitely isn’t the kind of book you’ll be remembering a long time after finishing it. What it does deliver is a good time, and if you’re in the mood to laugh I definitely recommend dedicating a couple of hours to this one!
From pigs being accidentally set loose in a school to falling in pet-love with a chicken scheduled to be served up for dinner, this book delivers the originality.
Laurel is new to small town Iowa, but has become close with a native named Aspen. Aspen is determined to score them both spots in the popular crowd – which, in turn, should score them both boyfriends. But, as we know, these things never go according to plan. As they navigate through after-school jobs and drunken high school parties, disaster and embarrassment follow them everywhere. Also: things actually take a pretty sinister turn. You’ll be surprised by the level of violence they accidentally find themselves exposed to. I certainly was!
Anyway – bottom line. I loved Lauren, Aspen and all their crazy plans. This book was so much fun to read, I found myself laughing constantly. There isn’t a lot of plot or character development, and it definitely isn’t the kind of book you’ll be remembering a long time after finishing it. What it does deliver is a good time, and if you’re in the mood to laugh I definitely recommend dedicating a couple of hours to this one!
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June 22, 2011In Iowa farm country, sixteen-year-old Aspen and her friend Laurel plan to get noticed the summer before their senior year and are unwittingly aided by pig triplets, a skunk, a chicken, bullies, a rookie policeman, and potential boyfriends.
A & L Do Summer was a hilarious and pleasant read that had me grinning from ear to ear throughout! It was generally light-hearted even when the main character, Aspen, and her BFF-cum-partner-in-crime Lindsey were constantly getting into trouble, or when they were getting bullied by three incorrigibly disgusting boys in their school (maybe it has to do with how Aspen describes those bullies). The story manages to turn some pretty severe situations, such as Aspen and Lindsey getting arrested, into funny events that made me laugh. Not to say it’s a joke to get arrested, of course. Ahem. But seriously, it’s not every day we get to read a teen book involving two teenaged girls, three barn pigs, one chicken, one skunk, and one bully named Ferret!
Full review: http://anovelparadise.blogspot.com/20...
A & L Do Summer was a hilarious and pleasant read that had me grinning from ear to ear throughout! It was generally light-hearted even when the main character, Aspen, and her BFF-cum-partner-in-crime Lindsey were constantly getting into trouble, or when they were getting bullied by three incorrigibly disgusting boys in their school (maybe it has to do with how Aspen describes those bullies). The story manages to turn some pretty severe situations, such as Aspen and Lindsey getting arrested, into funny events that made me laugh. Not to say it’s a joke to get arrested, of course. Ahem. But seriously, it’s not every day we get to read a teen book involving two teenaged girls, three barn pigs, one chicken, one skunk, and one bully named Ferret!
Full review: http://anovelparadise.blogspot.com/20...
July 22, 2011
2.5 stars
Aspen and Laurel have been friends ever since Laurel was transplanted from Chicago to small town Cottonwood Creek, Iowa. It’s the summer after their junior year of high school, and Laurel is determined that this summer they are finally going to get noticed. The girls do succeed in getting noticed, but not always for the right reasons. They have run-ins with a group of local hoodlums, get arrested when a barn-party gets busted, and of course try to get the attention of cute boys.
The plot of A&L Do Summer consists of Laurel and Aspen getting themselves into and out of every kind of mess imaginable. The plot is not completely realistic, and many of their predicaments seem contrived, but the story will make readers chuckle. Though they are not entirely realistic, Aspen and Laurel are humorous and likable characters. The secondary characters – old Mrs. Simmons, who pushes a pet skunk in a stroller, and Buttferk, a trio of local losers – also add humor to the story. As the title suggests, this is a light, summer read for fans of teen chick lit.
Aspen and Laurel have been friends ever since Laurel was transplanted from Chicago to small town Cottonwood Creek, Iowa. It’s the summer after their junior year of high school, and Laurel is determined that this summer they are finally going to get noticed. The girls do succeed in getting noticed, but not always for the right reasons. They have run-ins with a group of local hoodlums, get arrested when a barn-party gets busted, and of course try to get the attention of cute boys.
The plot of A&L Do Summer consists of Laurel and Aspen getting themselves into and out of every kind of mess imaginable. The plot is not completely realistic, and many of their predicaments seem contrived, but the story will make readers chuckle. Though they are not entirely realistic, Aspen and Laurel are humorous and likable characters. The secondary characters – old Mrs. Simmons, who pushes a pet skunk in a stroller, and Buttferk, a trio of local losers – also add humor to the story. As the title suggests, this is a light, summer read for fans of teen chick lit.
May 7, 2012
The back cover of this book is TOTALLY misleading. I was expecting it to be a lighthearted, summer romance type story, and instead I got bullying and multiple arrests. Not to mention that the back cover also makes it seem as though Laurel, not Aspen, would be the likely narrator if it was being told in first-person, which is not the case. Bait and switch aside, I still wasn't a huge fan. I understand how difficult it is to be bullied, but some of the stuff that the girls willingly took the blame for to avoid further problems with their tormenters were crazy, especially considering that if they had told someone, the guys most likely would have been arrested immediately.
I guess I just feel as though, if you you're going to write an "issues" book you should 1. be up front about it and 2. write it better.
Also, Clay was lame. I don't care how hot of a redhead he supposedly was. So was Manny for that matter. I would have made him a Pepto Bismol omelet too, only I would have invited Clay over for a few bites as well.
I guess I just feel as though, if you you're going to write an "issues" book you should 1. be up front about it and 2. write it better.
Also, Clay was lame. I don't care how hot of a redhead he supposedly was. So was Manny for that matter. I would have made him a Pepto Bismol omelet too, only I would have invited Clay over for a few bites as well.
September 21, 2012
Growing up in a small country town, I remember all about being a teenager and feeling the occasional need to break free or change my social status. I think this is why A&L Do Summer by Jan Blazanin appealed so much to me when I first picked it up at the E. Lockhart event that was held at Oblong Books (LOVE Oblong Books!) last year. From the moment I read the back cover, I was intrigued by the premise of the story, and immediately decided that A & L Do Summer by Jan Blazanin was the book that I was going to take as my ‘free gift’.
Click here to read my full review!
Click here to read my full review!
August 8, 2011
Yay! Another book by an Iowan author with a story set in Iowa. This book was captivating with its humor. It was very exciting to read and recognize familiar places. Aspen best friend Laurel annoyed the crap out of me. She was stupid and naive enough to come up with bizarre plans to try and save face. I enjoyed Aspen's character, but I wish she had a better backbone to stand up to her friend instead of joining her to get arrested, fined, and who knows what else. I loved the fire scene and I kind of wish the owl had eaten the chicken, but overall a very engrossing book.
September 9, 2015
This started off a little slow for me but I'm so happy I continued on. After about fifty pages I was so involved I couldn't put this down. I loved Aspen and Laurel's antics and how they always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Great showcasing of friendship in here. I also really loved the small town aspect in here as well. And Sammy and Officer Sierra. Those two were probably my favourite characters in here.
May 31, 2011
Aspen and Laurel make the perfect couple to stir up some trouble in a small town. I found myself laughing at every turn of the page with their antics and sarcastic ways. Aspen's elderly, overly grouchy neighbor is also a hoot. Perfect for a light hearted read on a hot summer day
July 25, 2011
Good summer read. It was about Aspen and Laurel, they are best friends, and the book just follows them in their summer. They get into a lot of situations, which makes them fight and get back together, also makes their friendship stronger. Plus, I love that they have some summer love in the book. :D
September 11, 2011
I really liked this book I was constantly laugh at the characters of the book and Aspen and her brother reminded me of my brother and I. The book had some romance but not to much and it was very well written.
November 5, 2011
The writing and characters left a bit to be desired, but this was a funny book. It reminded me of a lot of teen movies with how it became a bit over-the-top at times (and featured to last-summer-ever-as theme at its core). I think this one would appeal to younger teens quite easily.
November 21, 2011
pretty silly and forgettable. wild & crazy laurel keeps convincing her best friend, main character aspen, to do stupid things which result in shenanigans and sometimes getting arrested. good for teens who like slapstick romantic comedies. otherwise skip-able.
October 21, 2014
I never managed to finish it. I read over half and couldn't force myself to read the rest. It didn't hold my attention and it wasn't something that had the qualities of a novel I could curl up with and really get into.
September 28, 2011
Very cute, fun summer read.
May 26, 2012
Friends getting up to mischief in their summer holidays... Pins over this one boy...
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June 17, 2014cool
May 24, 2016
I like small town books. Cute and easy read. I wish there was more of her and Clay.
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