Do you feel that? That’s right. Nashville is heating up for another hot summer. But that also means it’s time for Summer Reading. So finish up those last days of school and then let’s jump into some excellent summer lovin’!
Sam has perfected life and she has a job where she gets to help other people perfect theirs. Or she fires them. Her doctor fiancé is perfect — everything is perfectly under control. Until she has to go back to her parents' beach house on Long Island to plan her perfect wedding. Then memories of her youth and her first love remind her that perfection doesn’t equal happiness. And what’s a girl to do when said first love shows up next door? I really enjoyed this one. My only complaint is that it was too short. I felt like the author could have fleshed things out more. Honestly, though, that might make it the perfect beach read. In and out. Done and done. I enjoyed the audio version, but NPL also has print. Check out your fave and let the waves take you away.
He’s a reader. She has severe dyslexia and always thinks the movie is better. (Sacrilege!) Sounds like a match made in heaven right? But somehow it works. Samantha has come home to Martha’s Vineyard to take care of her stepbrother while her parents go on vacation. Ben is in town to be the interim director at the library, while also trying to figure out who his dad is. This is fun story. I thought at first that this was just gonna be everyone fighting all the time, but it wasn’t. The characters were great. The story was good — just the right amount of intrigue vs. predictability. Again the audio was my go-to for this one, but NPL has print too. Choose and read! Preferably on a beach.
Set in South Carolina, Avalon Bay is a close-knit community which loves to celebrate the summer. Good girl Cassie grew up in Avalon Bay, but since her parents' divorce, she hasn’t really been back. But when her grandmother sells their family inn, it's time to spend one more summer in her old haunts. And if she finds a fling, so much the better. I enjoyed reading this one, even though as I got about halfway through, I realized that this was the third book in the Avalon Bay series, not the second like I thought. Somehow I missed it. Doh! Now I have to go back and catch up. I do recommend reading these in order, but once you start, you won’t want to stop. These would be excellent for a road trip if you’re into the whole audiobook thing.
Woo. Loved this one. Emma and her friend Maddy were checking out an AITA Reddit thread (IYKYK), when they came across a guy, Justin, who named his ugly dog after his best friend because his best friend abandoned him to move in with his girlfriend. Justin claims to be cursed so that everyone he dates finds the love of their lives immediately after breaking up with him. Emma feels the same, so she messages Justin. When they hit it off, they decide to start dating to become each other's curse breakers.
I really loved the characters in this story. While this is technically the third installment in the Part of Your World series, if you haven’t read the other books, I don’t think you are missing anything. That said, those are good too and you should read them posthaste. I love Abby Jimenez and I can’t wait to see what she gives us next. Hopefully I won’t have to wait until next summer…
Ok friends, I hope your beach bag is packed with excellent reads, sunscreen, a frisbee, and a cute hat. Let's get this summer thing started!
Happy sunshining...
:) Amanda
