July was a slower summer month, and I finished 5 books!
I'm now at 31/60 finished books for my 2018 Reading Challenge! Check it out here - https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/7501-2018-reading-challenge
You'll find each book's review and synopsis below.
1) FIFTEENTH SUMMER - BY: MICHELLE DALTON - 249 PAGES - 4/5 STARS
MY THOUGHTS: When I first picked up this book it was mostly because of the cover and it being about summer. Then I got a little worried when I saw that the main character had just turned 15, only because in most cases like that it's harder to relate to and understand the main character. But I was pleasantly surprised!
This book has death, remembrance, grief, love, a book store, a first job and so much more. Not that the death part is fun to read about, but it is a part of the main character's development throughout the book. Plus, for me at least, it brought back all of my good memories from my grandparents house growing up and all of their many knick knacks that I loved so much.
Another fun part was the book store because it is where Chelsea and Josh meet. Did I mention the main character likes to read?!? This book and most of what happens in it is just your typical young adult reader's dream (at least one of mine).
Then there's the whole spending the summer in a lake house. That's something I've always wished I could do...maybe someday :) Going to a whole new state/town for the summer, living in a small community, getting a job or maybe just spending all day every at the beach reading and swimming, that just sounds like the best time.
If you're going to give this book a try, I would suggest waiting till summer to read it because it has some of the best summer vibes!
SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS: Love blossoms by the lake in this sweet summer romance, in the tradition of Fifteenth Summer and Sixteenth Summer.
Chelsea isn’t looking forward to her summer at the lake. It’s the first time her family has been there since her grandmother died, and she can’t break out of her funk. But her summer takes a turn for the better when she meets a boy who works in the bookstore. Josh is cute, sweet, funny…and best of all, seems to like her as much as she likes him. As the days pass by in a blur of boat rides, picnics, and stolen kisses, she can’t believe how lucky she is. No one has ever made her feel so special, or so beautiful.
But Chelsea knows her days with Josh are numbered. She’ll be heading home at the end of the summer—and he’ll be staying behind. Will this be Chelsea’s summer of love? Or will it be the summer of her broken heart?
2) SIXTEENTH SUMMER - BY: MICHELLE DALTON - 283 PAGES - 3/5 STARS
MY THOUGHTS: While I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first one, I do think it's worth getting together and reading. Maybe just read this one first, and then you'll like it as much as the first one :)
What I enjoyed about this story is the family, family traditions and romance. This book still had the lake home setting, summer, beach life and what not. The roles are just reversed, and the setting is different.
The main character in this book has a different lifestyle than the first. She works with her bigger family in their family owned business and spends a lot of time with her family and her two best friends from school.
Don't let me scare you away from reading this one because it is still worth it!
SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS: Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love.
But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach, Anna can't ignore that the days are quickly growing shorter, and Will has to leave at the end of August. Anna's never felt anything like this before, but when forever isn't even a possibility, one summer doesn't feel worth the promise of her heart breaking...
3) NO LOVE ALLOWED - BY: KATE EVANGELISTA- 228 PAGES - 4/5 STARS
MY THOUGHTS: This was another book that I thought would be a fun summer read, and it was! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one too. It was a book I bought off of Book Outlet so I had only the brief synopsis to make my judgement from. When I first picked it up, the cover almost turned me off but I'm glad I went with it.
The fact that Didi is a painter was definitely a good sign, but then her character became so much more. Caleb's character was set up to be one that you disliked but it was nice to see him develop into a genuinely nice one that ended up breaking his ways so that he was able to fully support Didi.
There were those typical moments where it was a "young adult" romance book but there is a deeper issue in the book that once exposed a lot of other moments just fall into place. If you want to find out what I mean, give it a shot!
SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS: It's all fun and parties until someone falls in love in this modern fairy tale from author Kate Evangelista.
Caleb desperately needs a fake girlfriend. Either he attends a series of parties for his father’s law firm with a pretty girl on his arm, or he gets shipped off to Yale to start a future he’s not ready for and isn’t sure he wants. And sadly, the last unattached girl in his social circle has just made the grievous mistake of falling in love with him. Fortunately, Didi, recently fired waitress and aspiring painter, is open to new experiences. As the summer ticks by in a whirl of lavish parties, there’s only one rule: They must not fall in love!
4) DEENIE - BY: JUDY BLUME - 156 PAGES - 4/5 STARS
MY THOUGHTS: I finished this one in a day it was that good! If you've read any Judy Blume books, this one is definitely one you should add to your list. I'm surprise I missed reading this one when I was younger because I love Judy Blume books.
The synopsis gives you a great overview of the main subject of the book but it's still interesting in how the perspective is displayed. You hear the struggles of a young child going through the first stages of being diagnosed with scoliosis, which is something most people don't think about. I remember getting checked for it in elementary and middle school but can't imagine having it, granted the medical side of things has changed drastically since this book came out. Another dynamic is the one between Deenie, her mom and her family. No matter what everyone can relate to that.
I would also suggest this book to you if you have any middle school aged children because it would help develop better friendship skills by showing the perspective of someone who has a medical problem and how important it is to be kind.
SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS: When Deenie finds out that she has scoliosis, she’s scared. When she sees the brace for the first time, she wants to scream.
But the words won't come out. And Deenie, beautiful Deenie, who everyone says should be a model, is stuck wearing a brace from her neck to her hips. For four years—or longer. She never worried about how she looked before—how will she ever face the hard times ahead?
5) DEAR NOBODY: THE TRUE DIARY OF MARY ROSE - BY: GILLIAN MCCAIN & LEGS MCNEIL - 327 PAGES - 4/5 STARS
MY THOUGHTS: I had read Ask Alice back in January so I could compare. I do like both of them and they are similar. I can say that I prefer the writing in this book more than Ask Alice. Both are diary style but the character in this book comes across as more mature and has better writing skills.
Hearing stories like this can get pretty intense because of the extreme highs and lows. You find yourself really rooting for the main character and then you feel horrible when she crashes. She also has a very loving and open family which helps make the story more beautiful. I really enjoy reading books like this because it really gives you a good idea of how the character thinks and acts. It would be interesting if there was a supporting book to go with this one that was from an outsiders perspective so that we could learn more about the main character and how she was perceived on the outside
This is a really heartbreaking story that should be read to learn more about how being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis could affect your life. But more importantly to give you hope and the ability to push through any struggle in your life.
SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS: Go Ask Alice was a hoax. But Dear Nobody is a true teen diary so raw and so edgy its authenticity rings off every page
"I am a freak."
The words and drawings of Mary Rose present a gritty, powerful, no-holds-barred true experience of a teen girl so desperate to be loved, so eager to fit in that she'll go to extremes that could cost her her life.
This is not a story about addiction. Or sexual promiscuity. Or cystic fibrosis. It's the story of a young woman with a powerful will to live, who more than anything wants to be heard...and loved.
This compelling, emotional account ensures her voice will not be forgotten.
It's kinda crazy looking back on what I read this month to see how many disease books I read. I didn't intend to read all of them and I wouldn't say they were all super intense or depressing, so it was a pretty informative month! Stay tuned for some more book reviews!
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