cebaute's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed his book. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was because I did not like Addie all that much. She just kept running across the globe from problems. But the ending was a refreshing surprise.
kg50101's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was completely engrossed in this book but personally the ending wasn’t my favorite which made me a little sad. I wish that Addie would have ended up with Charlie bc that’s what I was rooting for the whole time but I understand the ending.
jamiejanae_6's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Abandonment, Death of parent, War, and Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness and Suicide attempt
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
4.0
16-year-old refugee Addie escapes Fascist Italy to live in Atlantic City with her aunt and uncle. But her journey is not over yet..
It’s only right that this story is from the mouth of Addie, a small Italian Jewish girl. For this is her story. Her story of being a war refugee, an Italian stranger in an American city. A female war correspondent and someone with secrets from the past. As she moves from Italy to the USA, her hopes and fears are poignantly portrayed and this is an emotional story on many levels.
I’ve loved Pam Jenoff’s books for some time but this one was a nice surprise as it was totally not the book I expected. The theme of war and of being Jewish during the war really gave me an insight into what it must have been like for a young child and as she tried to fit in with her life in america, I felt both admiration and sadness for her fate. Her story was quite a complex one but the way Pam writes, it’s never hard to follow and the emotional angle continues all the way through. Having Addie as the narrator was a great idea as who can tell her story better than her? I felt as if I was with her, reading her mind, thoughts and emotions and really wanted her to end up with one man (no spoilers) but was shocked by the end! Addie must be the example of so many children taken from their families and sent to safety and the scenes on the harbour were particularly poignant to me.
I really love Pam’s books as she always shows the human side, the vulnerable side to people during the war and I always feel humbled by getting to know her characters.
It’s only right that this story is from the mouth of Addie, a small Italian Jewish girl. For this is her story. Her story of being a war refugee, an Italian stranger in an American city. A female war correspondent and someone with secrets from the past. As she moves from Italy to the USA, her hopes and fears are poignantly portrayed and this is an emotional story on many levels.
I’ve loved Pam Jenoff’s books for some time but this one was a nice surprise as it was totally not the book I expected. The theme of war and of being Jewish during the war really gave me an insight into what it must have been like for a young child and as she tried to fit in with her life in america, I felt both admiration and sadness for her fate. Her story was quite a complex one but the way Pam writes, it’s never hard to follow and the emotional angle continues all the way through. Having Addie as the narrator was a great idea as who can tell her story better than her? I felt as if I was with her, reading her mind, thoughts and emotions and really wanted her to end up with one man (no spoilers) but was shocked by the end! Addie must be the example of so many children taken from their families and sent to safety and the scenes on the harbour were particularly poignant to me.
I really love Pam’s books as she always shows the human side, the vulnerable side to people during the war and I always feel humbled by getting to know her characters.
anissa_clendinen's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
suzannefine's review against another edition
5.0
I am a HUGE fan of Pam's work, and The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach will not disappoint you. Pam's knowledge of Europe/WWII shows in her writing, and she takes you to places and makes you feel as though you are in the middle of the war at times. I loved the relationships between the characters, watching them grow and fall apart and fall back into place. If you ever get the chance to see Pam in person, run - don't walk. She is fabulous in person!
sarahs_readingparty's review against another edition
4.0
Though this book has a different flair from Pam Jenoff's other books, in its own way I was entranced by Addie, the Connally family, and the WWII life in America and overseas. The story was slow to start but then I couldn't put it down. And what a twist at the end! Lovely!
ncrabb's review against another edition
2.0
Essentially, (and I've grossly distilled this), this is the account of the fictional Addie Montforte who left her parents behind at their insistence and came to the United States from Italy in 1941. She lives with an aunt and uncle in Philadelphia, but their relationship always seemed distant and lukewarm at best. Not long after her arrival, Addie visits the Jersey shore with her aunt and uncle where she is introduced to the Connally family--two parents and a houseful of fun-loving Irish-Catholic boys.
It doesn't take long for a clandestine romance to sprout between Addie and Charlie Connally, the boy with all the promise and potential--a Georgetown scholarship and the opportunity to be a big-time football player.
Addie is also intrigued by troubled William, and it is he who quietly comes to her defense from time to time.
But America's entry into World War II and a family tragedy forces Addie and Charlie to put things on hold for a time. The remainder of the book unfolds Addie's adventures in London and an ending that makes sense, I guess.
I rated this low because Adie always seemed distant and cold to me for some reason. She seemed rather insular Granted, I admired her pluck and courage, but she just seemed distant somehow.
It doesn't take long for a clandestine romance to sprout between Addie and Charlie Connally, the boy with all the promise and potential--a Georgetown scholarship and the opportunity to be a big-time football player.
Addie is also intrigued by troubled William, and it is he who quietly comes to her defense from time to time.
But America's entry into World War II and a family tragedy forces Addie and Charlie to put things on hold for a time. The remainder of the book unfolds Addie's adventures in London and an ending that makes sense, I guess.
I rated this low because Adie always seemed distant and cold to me for some reason. She seemed rather insular Granted, I admired her pluck and courage, but she just seemed distant somehow.
juani's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hsengteach's review against another edition
4.0
Love not Lost
I enjoyed this story. I felt for Addis as she struggled to find a what she needed not just wanted.
I enjoyed this story. I felt for Addis as she struggled to find a what she needed not just wanted.