Loving Summer

I tend to only read YA when it is recommended to me, and that was the case here. It’s a genre rife with some of the worst writing one can find. So how does this one measure up?Broadly, it measures up well. Well-written, highly credible, very real teens doing very real teen things and engaging in very real teen interactions. At least, real for my era! It may be that today’s teens find it a bit different, in the social media saturated world we all now inhabit.I tend to make a point of reading any negative reviews before I post my own views. Valid or not, they will often be the most honest, and if I disagree with what they say, I can explain why. In this case, there are two main criticisms that I see cropping up in the (to me, surprisingly) many one-star reviews:1) The accusation that this book is perhaps heavily informed by Jenny Han’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty”. I haven’t read that book, so I can’t comment on this directly. What I can say is that as most writers and many readers know, there are a set of clear story archetypes that are popular, work well, and are re-told many times. The Lion King is Hamlet. West Side Story is Romeo and Juliet. Terminator II: Judgement Day is X-Men: Days of Future Past (yes, the latter was written first). Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the Lord of the Rings are all versions of the “Hero’s Journey” template insofar as they follow its 17-step recipe for producing an exciting epic tale.To this end I say, maybe it is a close parallel, but that should not detract from enjoyment of this book.2) The teens’ thoughts and behaviours are childishly myopic, and the adult presence is irresponsibly hands-off in laissez-faire disregard. Honestly? The teens are teens, and not all adults are control freaks.All in all, if you’re going to read this book with a position of “this is unbelievable; I would never do that”, then you’re going to have a hard time. (Would you murder your landlady with an axe and then befriend the investigating officer? If not, then Crime and Punishment is a terrible book, by the same logic).Bottom line from me is that this is well-written YA, that elicited in me an enjoyable nostalgia.

California author/filmmaker Kailin Gow has worked as an Exec in charge of Legal and Production at Walt Disney Company, a writer/producer for Cable Television, an Exec at high tech start ups, an Exec at Fortune 100 Hotel and Travel Corporations, a model, a tour director, journalist, re-organization consultant, and secret shopper. She holds a Masters Degree in Communications Management from USC and Drama/Film and Social Ecology Degrees from UC Irvine. Now combining her highly successful career as an author and filmmaker Kailin uses her personal life's adversities into an inspiration and drive to write empowering books and stories for girls and women of all ages.In keeping with her mission to empower women Kailin has written a sweet romance that contains social issues such as coming of age, mental illness, divorce, depression, death, and family. How she makes these seemingly disparate themes related is evident in the opening of the Prologue of this story – ‘When I think of my summers spent at Aunt Sookie’s Malibu “pad” as she called it, I think about first kisses, first love, and first heartbreak. I think about my friendship with Rachel Donovan and her brothers Nathaniel (Nat) and Drew. I think of all the sunsets, dawns, and first attempts. And then there was this summer, the summer I grew up, in more ways than one, and everyone noticed, especially the boys, especially Nat." – Summer Jones.Knowing that this novel is being transformed into a film it is good to note that Kailin’s ability to create characters and dialogue is unique and involving for movie audiences. She proves this rather early in the book with the following encounter: ‘When we all used to stay over at Aunt Sookie’s place on the beach every summer, it used to be great. It’s been three years now though. Maybe it won’t be so good. Maybe I won’t even know Rachel so much. We’ve talked on the phone and online, but a friend you spend all summer with is different to one you just talk to now and again, right? I haven’t seen any of the Donovans since they moved away to San Francisco. And what about Drew? What about Nat? I wonder what he thought about the picture I sent. Did he like it? Did he see that I’m not some little girl anymore? “Summer?” There’s a Goth girl coming towards me, all purple streaked black hair, ivory skin and dark makeup, in a t-shirt and jeans that go with her hair like someone has streaked purple dye on them. I stare at her for a good couple of seconds before I see her face fully and rush forward to hug her. “Rachel!” I shouldn’t have worried about what it would be like with her back. Just hugging her, I know. I know that we’re exactly the friends we always were. Okay, so she’s done something freaky with her hair, but she’s still Rachel.’Kailin’s synopsis outlines the excursion we are entering – ‘Summer has always looked forward to spending her summers at her Aunt's beach house with the Donovans. To her, summers at Aunt Sookie's beach house was magical, especially getting to spend time with the Donovans - her best friend Rachel and Rachel's brothers Nathaniel, and Drew. Here at Aunt Sookie's beach house, they can be anyone and anything they dreamed. For Summer, she had always wished to become as pretty as Rachel and for her brothers to think of her as more than Rachel's friend. For Nat and Drew, summers at Aunt Sookie's beach house meant fun and escape, a place where they go to with their mom and sister for the summer, escaped to the beach, away from city life. They never thought this summer would be different. They never thought things would change as much as they did, that there would be a second chance for everything good and bad, including love and romance...and it all began with them falling for and loving Summer.’Solid writing lifting what could be a Chick Lit tale into a higher realm of character sensitivity, it is not surprising that this young lady is becoming a force in contemporary literature and film. Grady Harp, March 18

I thought that `Loving Summer` was the perfect love square I have read for a long time. I immensely enjoyed the book and can not wait for the next one!

Was a very nice book to read but there were no particularly stand out moments, it all happened a bit quickly, nice book to read though!

I did really enjoy the storyline of this book. I loved the love triangles etc but I'm half basing this on my reading of the next book because it was so disappointing. I really enjoy reading book series and once i finished this one i went straight to the next one. The storyline in the next book disappointed me beyond words. So although this book is really good you will probably be disappointed by the follow up.

I FOUND MY BOOK IT WAS GREAT A BIT PREDICTABLE BUT YES I LOVED IT , I THOUGHT SHE WOULD FALL IN LOVE WITH DREW INSTEAD OF THE FAMOUS GUY BUT DREW SOUNDED PERFECT TO ME !!!

Amo le storie d 'amore che iniziano da piccoli.Quando in una storia poi sono in tre ...lascio spazio all'immaginazione .Fenomenale.