Title: Loving Summer (#1)
Author: Kailin Gow
Published: May 27, 2012
Pages: 250
Series: yes
Source: purchased
Amazon Summary: 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, away from city life. They never thought this summer would be different. They never thought things would change as much as they did...and it all began with them falling for and loving Summer.
**REVIEW**
The synopsis of 'Loving Summer' made me think of 'The Boys Next Door' by Jennifer Echols and the 'Summer' series by Jenny Han - my love for YA fiction started there and as I'm writing this I'm noticing a pattern.. love triangles that involves brothers (I'm ignoring the voice in my head saying that's weird.)
I do like me a good love triangle, as long as it's well-done and believable. 'Loving Summer' featured a love square and I have yet to read a novel where I can actually make the connection as to how three guys can fall for this one girl.
It wasn't realistic having these gorgeous boys claim to love Summer, at the same time, without it being clear or coming across what it was that was so spectacular about her.
The relationship Summer struck up was really out of the blue as were the love confessions suddenly hailing from left and right, people pouring their hearts out.
Wherever Summer turned there was a boy. And this girl could not make up her mind. One boy she'd loved all her life, one she's dating, and one she has momentarily thoughts of going further with - it just made little sense.
There were many melodramatic situations and ones so cheesy I just found myself smiling.
I can't really place 'Loving Summer' - it was a super quick read for me; having only read for a little while I was shocked when realizing I was already halfway through. Everything flew by really fast and I didn't have enough time to grow feelings for anything or connecting with the emotions presented in the book.
'Loving Summer' also contained serious family issues but each of them were passed by rather than explored in a way to really attach the reader in the matter, it ended up feeling scattered and messy to me.
It amazes me every time how much impact an ending has. Without having gotten resolution to any problem 'Loving Summer' just ended, leaving in the midst of a giant tangle, literally as if several pages were missing. Or several chapters. And then comes an epilogue. In this case it felt like an easy way out. Now all I can feel is that this novel was unfinished.
The ending, unfortunately, took away a lot for me and I won't be picking up the following installment. I wished I'd liked 'Loving Summer', it had potential - it was really okay at its core (absolutely not a bad book) but ended up not working for me.
(2.8/5)
