Forever Summer: Laguna Cove and Cruel Summer by Alyson Noël

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            If you’re searching for the perfect summer beach read, look no further than Forever Summer by Alyson Noël. Forever Summer consists of two books—Laguna Cove and Cruel Summer. Below, I will review each book separately and then discuss which story I preferred.

Laguna Cove

            Laguna Cove follows four girls—new comer Alyson and pre-existing residents Ellie, Lola, and Jade. While Anne struggles to fit into the Californian lifestyle after moving from Connecticut, Ellie prepares to score a surfing sponsorship and please her strict father. Meanwhile, Lola tries to heal after a devastating breakup and Jade tries to help a delinquent friend. True to the California setting, Laguna Cover is filled with drama, romance, and of course, surfing.

            Laguna Cove is obviously not some literary masterpiece. Clearly, it is fluff. However, the story is fast-paced and dramatic, so it’s perfect for a day at the beach. Don’t check out this book if you are searching for a book with complex characters or a deep, profound meaning. But, if you’re looking for a fun way to pass the time, you will enjoy this book for its purpose.

            That being said, while I was expecting mindless fluff, I was not expecting to completely hate most of the characters. I would not want to be friends with any of these girls, except Jade because she was the only one that didn’t act like a brat or a snob. Lola isn’t as bad as the others, but she is constantly saying how she’s so gorgeous that guys just fall at her feet. Some people can say that think they are pretty and it doesn’t come across as vain. However, whenever Lola continuously talks about how beautiful she is in one chapter, I just want to gag. Ellie is a brat. Because of her crush, she’s rude to Anne throughout the entire novel… and it gets old fast. She also uses a guy’s crush on her to get back at her crush. However, she does redeem herself at the end by trying to make things right with Anne. The worst of all the characters is Anne. She never redeems herself. All she does is complain, whether it’s about moving to California, not spending enough time with her father (even though every time he tries to spend time with her, she goes off with her new boyfriend), or basically, any little thing. She’s annoying, and I honestly could not stand her or understand why the other characters thought she was so great.

            The romances are nothing too special. All the guys are the typical, Californian surfers. However, some romances did not turn out the way I guessed, so I was surprised by this. It made the book less predictable than other similar beach stories.

            Despite the less than stellar characters, Laguna Beach is the perfect book to keep you entertained while tanning or on a long car ride.

 

Cruel Summer

            Unlike Laguna Cove, Cruel Summer is written in the form of letters, blog posts, and emails by the main character, Colby. While Colby’s parents work through a messy divorce back in California, Colby spends her entire summer on a tiny Greek island named Tinos with her Crazy Aunt Tally. Although Colby is less than thrilled to leave her newfound popularity behind, she finds new friends and a romance in Tinos. 

            Cruel Summer, like Laguna Cove, serves its purpose. It isn’t a deep book that’s going to make you contemplate life after you’ve read it. However, it’s an easy summer book that’s perfect for a quick read.  

            After reading both novels, I have concluded that Alyson Noël has a talent for creating whiny protagonists. Like Laguna Cove, I didn’t really like the main character. Throughout the whole first half of the story, all Colby does is whine about how she doesn’t want to go to Greece and how she can’t hang out with her new popular friend back in California. I understand that Colby is upset, but the whole first half all she does is whine about every little thing. However, it does get better in the second half when she stops whining.

            As for the secondary characters, they are okay. I like how Aunt Tally added some depth to the story. However, I simply could not understand why Colby was so obsessed with the popular girl. She just seemed rude, and often times, I found her behavior made Colby behave in that manner as well.

            I actually enjoyed the romance in this book. Colby doesn’t use boys to make other boys jealous or think boys drop at her feet (cough, Laguna Cove). Her relationship and attraction towards her love interest seems real and believable. I liked her relationship and (SPOILER) their online banter is pretty darn cute.

            While I enjoyed the characters more, I felt like the plot is so-so. The first half moves painstakingly slow. There is not a lot of drama to keep things interesting. I often found myself bored throughout the first half of Cruel Summer because there honestly isn’t anything going on except for Colby groaning about something or pining after a boy that clearly has no feelings for her.

            While Cruel Summer may not be an earth-shattering novel, you will not be disappointed if all you are searching for is a quick beach read. 

 

Which book did I enjoy more?

            Although I prefer the characters in Cruel Summer, I liked Laguna Cove a bit more. There is enough drama to keep the story interesting and moving quickly, which is what I prefer in a quick summer read.

 

Disclaimer: I borrowed Forever Summer from the library. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own! 



The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen Review

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            To say that I like Sarah Dessen’s novels is an understatement. Not only am I completely in love with the characters and get immersed in the setting, but I also connect to the novels on a deeper level. So, when I discovered that her newest book would hit shelves this summer, I literally could not stand the wait. However, after reading The Moon and More, I am sad to say that I am slightly disappointed, as the novel didn’t exactly reach my expectations (although it was still good).

            The Moon and More follows Emaline during the summer before she leaves for college. Everything seems to be changing in Emaline’s life all at once—she breaks up with the boyfriend that she has been dating since the ninth grade, her mostly absentee biological father reappears after months without communication, and a cute New Yorker named Theo helping with a documentary about a local artist has caught her eye. With so much in her life changing, Emaline is torn between her roots in Colby and the new, lavish future that Theo promises.

            Out of all Sarah Dessen’s books, I find this one the least engaging (at least, for the first half, that is). Now, in her other books, there is no huge catastrophic event, no real big ka-pow like say, in a dystopian novel. I acutally like how her books document people's everyday lives, which can sometimes be anti-climatic. However, in The Moon and More, I found myself... dare I say, bored? While there is some drama at the beginning of the novel, I found myself kind of bored throughout the first half. It felt like absolutely nothing was happening except background to the present day. I like Dessen's flashbacks, but in this, it seemed like not much was happening during the present day until at least one hundred pages into the story.

            Sarah Dessen books are known for the romance. Wes, Owen, and Dexter are all love interests that swept me off my feet. While I understand that the romance isn’t the main focus of this novel, I expected to at least have one or two sa-woon moments. However, I was greatly disappointed as I didn’t really like either of the love interests. Luke is perfectly fine, just your average typical boy. While he isn't anything to write home about (although very realistic), I enjoyed him far more than Theo. I couldn’t find myself rooting for Emaline and Theo at all. Emaline constantly compared Theo to her ten-year-old half brother Benji, so it was hard to look past this image, especially since Theo behaved like a child at certain points in the book. I hate how he belittled Colby and how he thinks he’s better and more refined since he lives in New York City. His arrogant attitude got on my nerves so much that I wanted to punch him at parts of the novel. Literally everything that came out of his mouth makes him seem like a jerk. I didn’t like their relationship at all.

            While I didn’t particularly like these male characters that much, I did love Benji. He was cute and added depth to the story. I enjoyed reading every part that he is in. As for the other secondary characters, I was a tad under whelmed. Dessen typically makes her secondary characters memorable and they add to the story. For me, they weren’t as developed as her other characters in other novels. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Daisy, Morris, and the rest of her family. They each had their own individual, unique personalities. However, I just felt like something was missing from these characters that are present in her other novels.

            Although I didn’t like these aspects of the book, I liked how this Sarah Dessen book felt more real and raw than some of her other ones. As I mentioned previously, I am a sucker for Dessen romances. While I was somewhat sad that I didn’t like the love interests, I am actually happy that this story didn’t have the typical happily-ever-after ending that many of her books have. It felt real and more mature than some of Dessen’s other novels and it’s something that I appreciated as a happily-ever-after would have seemed silly and out of place in this novel. 

            However, my favorite part of the entire novel is the family aspect, especially Emaline’s relationship with her biological father. Dessen wrote the scenes between Emaline and her father perfectly and their ending is believable and adds a great touch to the story. Likewise, I appreciated Emaline's relationship with her family. It felt very real.

            As always, make sure to keep an eye out for mentions of characters in previous novels. There’s a bunch, but I won’t spoil any of them for you!

            So, while I was somewhat disappointed that some aspects of the novel didn’t reach my high expectations, I did enjoy The Moon and More. While the beginning is slow, the ending is superb. Some may not like the more mature tone of The Moon and More, but it is still a good story that is worth your time.  

Disclaimer: I borrowed The Moon and More from my library (but I hope to own it soon!) I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Private by Kate Brian (Private #1) Review

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Going into Private by Kate Brian, I did not have very high expectations. Despite negative reviews, I still hoped that the Private series would be a guilty pleasure like reality TV shows on MTV. However, after reading Private, I can say that I will most likely not continue with the series as I despise almost every single character in the novel.

            Private follows sophomore Reed Brennan as she transfers from boring Pennsylvania to the super exclusive and elite Easton Academy. With a fresh new start, Reed hopes to evolve from her former friendless self into a social butterfly. And her in? The beautiful and rich Billings Girls that rule the school. Reed will do anything to be their friend. But, is it worth the cost? (Here’s a hint, Reed—NO.)

            There is not much that I liked about this book, but the worst part is Reed. She is absolutely pathetic. No matter how nasty the Billings Girls treat her, she follows them around like a little lost puppy and does anything to please them, no matter what the cost. Even though they completely humiliate her, she thinks the torture is worth it. Why? She’ll have “friends.” She thinks that the Billings Girls are her only way to make friends. Um, hello? What about her nice (although somewhat superficial) roommate, Constance? Yeah, Constance has her flaws, but at least she does not force Reed to steal a physics test!

            Now, I have never read the Clique series, but I have seen the movie. Those girls have nothing on the Billings Girls. Massie Block (at least in the movie version) is no where near as manipulative and cruel as Noelle, who continuously demeans everyone around her and is just plain nasty. Noelle is truly an ugly person and her friends aren’t much better. They will do literally anything to please her, and it’s disgusting. I could not even muster an ounce of sympathy for the ones that I was suppose to like. Their behavior is so ridiculously mean that it actually made me dislike Reed even more because she wanted to be just like them (and, at times, truly does behave just like them).

            I hated, hated, HATED Thomas. Cute “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift right now, please. His relationship with Reed is downright disturbing. Not only is he an alcoholic and drug dealer, but I am convinced he is a complete PSYCHO as well. He manipulates Reed. One minute he “loves” her and the next he is bashing his fist into a wall than he is begging for her forgiveness. Multiple times he says, “You can’t do this. You love me.” At one point, he even says, “You have to love ALL of me” (when they are discussing his drug dealing habits). THIS BEHAVIOR IS NOT HEALTHY. Yeah, you should like your partner, flaws and all. But, if these flaws consistent of serious creep-o behavior, then RUN AWAY. However, little clueless Reed doesn’t do this. She falls for his act... EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

            To me, the most disturbing part of this book is when Thomas literally makes Reed fall and hurt herself. But, get this—Reed is perfectly OKAY with this. WHAT? WHY? Oh, wait, it’s because the Billings Girls finally accept her. No, just no. This is not OKAY. This is abusive and just plain wrong. This justifies abuse as a way to gain a friendship and that just does not sit well with me.

            The only “positive” about Private is that the ending sets up a mystery for the next novel. But, that’s only a plus if (SPOILER) you care about Thomas’ mysterious disappearance.

            Which I did not. I actually cheered.

 

 

Disclaimer: I borrowed Private from the library. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler Review

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          They say never to judge a book by its cover… but I just couldn’t help myself with this one! The cover drew me in. It is seriously one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen. At first, I expected this to be a light summer novel. With the title and the cute cover, I expected it to be about girls who go on vacation and meet boys. You know, your typical summer romance. However, after reading it, I can say this is definitely not your typical summer novel.

           Twenty Boy Summer follows Anna. Anna has always had a crush on her best friend Frankie’s older brother, Matt. When Matt kisses her on her fifteenth birthday, they secretly start dating. Matt decides that he will tell Frankie about his relationship with Anna when he and Frankie go on vacation to Zanzibar Bay. However, this never happens—before they go on vacation, Matt dies from a heart condition that nobody knew about.

            Thirteen months later, Frankie is still in the dark about Anna and Matt’s relationship and Anna is still not over Matt’s death. When Frankie asks Anna to go to Zanzibar Bay, she proposes that they meet 20 different boys to have the ‘Absolute Best Summer Ever.’ Anna is hesitant to agree with Frankie’s plan, but when she does she does not expect to fall in love or confront Matt’s death for good. 

            Twenty Boy Summer is beautifully written. Unlike most young adult novels, Twenty Boy Summer is not full of designer references, mean girls, or vampires. Instead, Ockler crafts a nearly perfect story full of love and heartbreak that left me experiencing the same emotions as the characters in the story. I seriously NEVER cry when reading books or watching movies. However, this book made me tear up quite a few times. Be prepared to go through a box of tissues on one page and laugh out loud on the next!

            However, what makes this novel so special are the characters. Each character has a different personality and deals with death in a different way. I could easily relate to many of the characters, and I don’t think anyone else would have much trouble either since there is such a variety.

            Even though I loved all the characters, Matt is definitely one of my favorites of the bunch . While he is only in the book for the first few chapters, the flashbacks that are sprinkled throughout the rest of the novel make you fall in love with him just as Anna did. However, the only downside to this is that I did not like Anna’s summer fling, Sam, as much as I loved Matt.

            The only bad part in Twenty Boy Summer is Frankie’s parents’ case of ‘missing parent syndrome.’ Even though Frankie says that they pick and choose what they want to hear, it becomes increasingly unbelievable that her parents never know about her and Anna’s true whereabouts. Throughout the novel, Frankie and Anna venture off on their own, even as far as San Francisco which is two hours away, and Frankie’s parents do not catch onto their lying. While it allows the characters to have a wild and care-free summer, it just comes off as unbelievable.

           Although the cover suggests that Twenty Boy Summer is an easy beach read, it is not a light novel and can be enjoyed anytime of the year.

Disclaimer: I borrowed Twenty Boy Summer from the library (but I need to own it because it is one of my favorite books!). I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!



Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler Review

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          Finding a good contemporary young adult book in a sea of novels about mythical creatures and dystopian societies is like finding a needle in a haystack. However, after searching high and low, I have discovered an author that seems to get it right every time—Sarah Ockler. With four books under her belt, Ockler is proving to be one of the best young-adult authors on the shelves today. With that being said, Fixing Delilah is a book that needs to hit your summer reading list and would be a perfect introduction to her work.

            Fixing Delilah follows seventeen-year-old Delilah Hannaford, a girl with a bad reputation for sneaking out with her “non-boyfriend” and stealing from Blush Cosmetics. With her father dead and a workaholic mother, Delilah spends most nights by herself at home. That is, until she is told that her grandmother is dead and she and her mother must go back to her grandmother’s house in Vermont for the entire summer to attend the funeral and sell the house.

            There, Delilah attempts to uncover the mysteries that tear her family apart, like what happened to her mother’s dead younger sister and the fight between her mother and grandmother that ended all communication between them eight years before. With her old summer best friend (and love interest) Patrick, new friend Emily, and aunt, Delilah learns that even the most broken relationships are worth mending.

            Like other Ockler’s other novels Twenty Boy Summer and Bittersweet, Ockler crafts a heart breaking story with real characters and relatable problems. Unlike other summer novels, Fixing Delilah is not light and fluffy. As always, you may want to grab a box of tissues before sitting down with this bad boy. You’ll most likely end up in tears through the majority of the novel.

            The characters in Fixing Delilah are simply perfection. Delilah is an extremely relatable protagonist. Her evolution from an angsty teen to a more understanding one is a pleasure to read. Any teenager will be able to relate to her rocky relationship with her family and the experience of falling in love. Although her mother at first comes across as the stereotypical workaholic mother, as the story develops, she becomes a character with many layers. However, the best part of the characters is that they all have flaws. No character is “perfect” like many other characters in young adult novels. They’re real, which is refreshing in a genre overcrowded with perfect boyfriends and other similar stereotypes.

            In addition, Ockler perfectly captures a teenage voice. Some other authors struggle to write in a way that makes protagonists sound like teenagers. However, Ockler is not one of them. Delilah sounds like the average teenager, and this is not accomplished with overused slang like many other authors try to do (I mean, just because you say LOL doesn’t mean you sound like a teenage girl). It sounds like your listening to your best friend, which personally made me feel a stronger connection to the story. 

            The plot is beautifully written. Ockler has a way of taking a simple idea and making it complicated, heartbreaking, and captivating. I literally could not put the book down, which caused me family members to question my sanity once or twice on Christmas day when I received and promptly started reading the book. Seriously, not one part of the book falls flat and Ockler has a way with words.

            Besides an interesting plot and great characters, Ockler tackles tough topics wonderfully. In the novel, Ockler addresses suicide, death, depression, and a broken family. She does not do this in a clichéd way and the characters’ reactions to each situation is believable. Although this may seem like a wide range of topics to discuss in one novel, Ockler pulls it off perfectly and each topic is addressed completely.

            Fans of Ockler’s other novels and Sarah Dessen will love Fixing Delilah. Ockler’s latest novel, The Book of Broken Hearts, hit shelves this May.

Disclaimer: I receieved Fixing Delilah as a Christmas present. I am not being compensated for this review in any way! All thoughts and opinions are my own.