cris_redondoo's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I don't know what happened to the author, but this book was horrible. The characters started to act nothing like what their personalities used to be. It was not set in summer, so the summer house (which was the highlight for me, alongside the small coastal town) were not mentioned. And I believe it was just an unnecessary book. I don't think I will continue the series.
alyce_hockers's review
1.0
So cliche and so predictable. The first book in the series wasn't so bad... but each book gets worse. You see where each relationship is headed from a mile away. My completion-ist attitude is the only thing making me finish this series.
extrakrispy's review
2.0
This book has been read and reviewed for Reading Thru the Library.
After Summer follows two sisters and their cousin after an eventful summer as each girl navigates the changing seasons and their evolving relationships with boys.
Usually, I can tolerate sub-par writing if a book has a plot that's interesting enough, or if the author makes me care about a character and what happens to them. This book did none of the above. The characters were bland and over-played, and the whole plot pivots on the drama that surrounds high school and college. And please, don't get me started on the dialogue or the description of the characters 'G-Man' and 'Bethy':
Not half of the impact of his hotness, mind you - all of it. It could also be that After Summer is not my cup of tea, or that I groaned with dread when I saw that it was first up on the shelf to read, giving my mind preconceived opinions about the book before I had even cracked it open. Still, I gave it a try...if only because I didn't want to quit before we had even started.
One quick question: where the hell are these girls' parents? It might go without saying that this book sucked. I did not enjoy reading it in the slightest and Abbott could not make me care about any of her gorgeous, blonde, self-obsessed high school characters with perfect lives, who's only real problem is that the new boy in class is flirting with them when they already have a boyfriend. The most realistic character is Kelsi, who could use an entire book to herself and her obviously-obnoxious-frat-boy-boyfriend-is-obnoxious plot, just so readers aren't subjected to the Beth and Ella stories. There are some points for this book out there somewhere for name-dropping Death Cab for Cutie and Beastie Boys, but I feel that if Mike-D himself showed up and started dating one of the three main characters, it still could not save them from a dismal rating. That could make for an interesting turn of events, though.
At this point, I want to admit that I know I am not the target audience for this book. And even when I was in high school, I couldn't have related to any of these characters. I wasn't the pretty, preppy one who was always concerned about how many boys were looking at her or whether she was going to make the swim team. In college, I thought Greek life was a joke. Some of these characters could provide some very nice literary analysis with their relationships and the way that they behave...which honestly could make this series enjoyable. Except that debating whether you should go get burgers for lunch with your boyfriend is about as deep as it gets.
This book has been read and reviewed for Reading Thru the Library.
After Summer follows two sisters and their cousin after an eventful summer as each girl navigates the changing seasons and their evolving relationships with boys.
Usually, I can tolerate sub-par writing if a book has a plot that's interesting enough, or if the author makes me care about a character and what happens to them. This book did none of the above. The characters were bland and over-played, and the whole plot pivots on the drama that surrounds high school and college. And please, don't get me started on the dialogue or the description of the characters 'G-Man' and 'Bethy':
"Looking up at George, Beth took in the full impact of his hotness, from his curly black hair, to the snug navy polo that showed off his biceps, to his perfectly torn Abercrombie jeans, to his bare feet, which sported the fading tan lines of flip-flops." (2)
Not half of the impact of his hotness, mind you - all of it. It could also be that After Summer is not my cup of tea, or that I groaned with dread when I saw that it was first up on the shelf to read, giving my mind preconceived opinions about the book before I had even cracked it open. Still, I gave it a try...if only because I didn't want to quit before we had even started.
One quick question: where the hell are these girls' parents? It might go without saying that this book sucked. I did not enjoy reading it in the slightest and Abbott could not make me care about any of her gorgeous, blonde, self-obsessed high school characters with perfect lives, who's only real problem is that the new boy in class is flirting with them when they already have a boyfriend. The most realistic character is Kelsi, who could use an entire book to herself and her obviously-obnoxious-frat-boy-boyfriend-is-obnoxious plot, just so readers aren't subjected to the Beth and Ella stories. There are some points for this book out there somewhere for name-dropping Death Cab for Cutie and Beastie Boys, but I feel that if Mike-D himself showed up and started dating one of the three main characters, it still could not save them from a dismal rating. That could make for an interesting turn of events, though.
At this point, I want to admit that I know I am not the target audience for this book. And even when I was in high school, I couldn't have related to any of these characters. I wasn't the pretty, preppy one who was always concerned about how many boys were looking at her or whether she was going to make the swim team. In college, I thought Greek life was a joke. Some of these characters could provide some very nice literary analysis with their relationships and the way that they behave...which honestly could make this series enjoyable. Except that debating whether you should go get burgers for lunch with your boyfriend is about as deep as it gets.
This book has been read and reviewed for Reading Thru the Library.
lewsa's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
booksandbraids's review
3.0
It was good. I think I liked this one a bit better than the other two. but it still wasn't fantastic. Doesn't make me wanna go on and on about it or lose sleep over it
vannababes's review
2.0
2.5/5
Not the best out the series, but still alright enough. Still don't like Kelsi, nor think Tim should be with her. I think the idea of Ryan could have been good for Ella but they just made him into a fucking Peter. And I feel Beth with this George thing, people don't speak up about this type of stuff but I personally went through that shit and it was annoying.
Not the best out the series, but still alright enough. Still don't like Kelsi, nor think Tim should be with her. I think the idea of Ryan could have been good for Ella but they just made him into a fucking Peter. And I feel Beth with this George thing, people don't speak up about this type of stuff but I personally went through that shit and it was annoying.
mellamaron's review
3.0
WHAT THE HECK?
How did I go from completely loving Beth and Kelsi to thinking that they are really stupid? Ella was the only one in this book who knew what she wanted! She grew from the last book and APPLIED WHAT SHE LEARNED.
Beth... Gosh, Beth's story was a bit close to home.
Kelsi... Good golly gosh. I LOVE TIM. I seriously hands-down love that boy - even more than George.
So I really want the next volume. Because I need to know what happens i that last summer. And Jeremy is a sweetheart. can I pack him up and keep him for myself?
How did I go from completely loving Beth and Kelsi to thinking that they are really stupid? Ella was the only one in this book who knew what she wanted! She grew from the last book and APPLIED WHAT SHE LEARNED.
Spoiler
Honestly, I was extremely proud of her for not sleeping with that awful boy.Beth... Gosh, Beth's story was a bit close to home.
Spoiler
I understand what it's like to have a guy think about sex a bit too much but still, you as a girl have to understand that most of the time, it's NOT really about sex. And with George, it wasn't - not really. He just wanted to be close to Beth, as close as he could get. And when he wasn't close to her, he had anxiety and fear that she was getting close to someone else! (Which happened before - hello!) So I was angry at Beth for not realizing what was really going on. Though yes, George should have been better to her too.Kelsi... Good golly gosh. I LOVE TIM. I seriously hands-down love that boy - even more than George.
Spoiler
So what the heck was she doing breaking up with him because "they have nothing in common?" What kind of argument IS THAT? I just wish she had given him more of a chance. She was kind of stubborn and annoying.So I really want the next volume. Because I need to know what happens i that last summer. And Jeremy is a sweetheart. can I pack him up and keep him for myself?
jenna_kaitlyn's review
4.0
Abbott switches things up a bit with this book and writes about the fall immediately following the summer in the second book rather than making the jump to the next summer like she did from book 1 to book 2. I think this decision was a good one. With all the girls leaving the summer in relationships (all rockier than others), it was nice to see how those were affected once summer was over and everyone left the beach. This story really seemed to deal with some deeper issues than the other two books, but still kept it pretty light. The end of this book didn't seem to set up the next book as well as the first two did, but it was still a good addition to the series.
hazel_leu's review
4.0
Honestly these books in this series have gotten a bit better. I wish there was more focus on Jamie though. It feels like lazy writing. Full review to come on blog. Foundinwords.wix.com/site/blog
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