susannaopal's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5. Parts I really enjoyed but the pacing wasn't always the best for me and it dragged in spots. A good summer read looking at growing up, figuring out friendships and family.
burstnwithbooks's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars
Wow, that was fabulous. I’m so glad I finally got around to reading this. It was so pure, so realistic, and super fun, I loved reading from Anise’s point of view and her story was incredible. The family dynamic was fantastic, and I’m so glad the romance never overshadowed that. Full review definitely TK!
Wow, that was fabulous. I’m so glad I finally got around to reading this. It was so pure, so realistic, and super fun, I loved reading from Anise’s point of view and her story was incredible. The family dynamic was fantastic, and I’m so glad the romance never overshadowed that. Full review definitely TK!
girlreading's review against another edition
4.0
This was the perfect summer read! It's got family, love, friendship, surfing, skateboard, a road trip and a diverse cast of lovable characters. a.k.a the recipe for a fantastic, fun and super cute summer contemporary. I'd 100% recommend this and if this is anything to go by, I'm very much looking forward to reading Silverman's future books!
eokamoto's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
evelynpinacolada's review against another edition
3.0
This book kept me hooked when I didn’t feel like reading anything. It was a carefree, blissful summer despite light family drama—until the second half where more conflicts came up. Unfortunately, these conflicts were incredibly predictable and silly; they kept the story going forward but didn’t do much else since they were resolved like two pages later. Which brings me to the question, can I just get a fun YA book that doesn’t have so much melodrama?
booknookghost's review against another edition
5.0
I am absolutely disgusted by the chunk of ignorants targeting this author. Get a life and some common sense.
reina_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
locolibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not a huge fan of YA novels, especially romantic YA novels. So, I went in with low expectations.
I was actually able to finish it... so congratulations, Laura Silverman; however, I still hated it.
Mostly I didn't like this book because of the main character Anise. Honestly, she's not a nice person. I get it, she has her reasons because of her mom abandoning her and all, but sheeze for someone who "really cares" about her friends, she doesn't ACT like it AT ALL. She constantly is whining about having to leave her best friends for the summer and how she's worried they will forget, but then when she's away in Nebraska taking care of her family, she NEVER BOTHERS TO CONTACT THEM? WELL YEAH! They might forget you because you're just RUDE! And these are supposed to be friends she has had for 17 years (her whole life)?? What am I missing here? Why do her friends even like her to begin with? And then when she comes home, her friends AUTOMATICALLY forgive her without her even saying much or being kind of rude and pretty much saying "I didn't think about you. It was like you didn't exist at all." Would you be okay if YOUR friend did this to YOU? No.
Just doesn't make any sense. Eric seems like a very sweet, understanding friend and she kisses him and all at the beginning of the book, but then she just DROPS OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH? He was WAITING for you all summer and then in literally a few days you already are crushing on someone else?? Sadly, as readers we don't even get to know Eric at all -- he's like a 2D cardboard cutout in the book.
Honestly, I hated Anise and her whining. There was no redemption for Anise or her mother. We don't even get to meet her mom in the book. Half the story is Anise ogling a boy she barely knows and then driving across the country with him. I understand the moral is supposed to be that home is not a place but the people, but honestly, all the people in the story just suck.
There's stupid quotes like this that are supposed to be profound, but are just sad:
"But maybe that’s part of what family is—loving people you have nothing in common with."
There were also random, creepy comments about wanting to preserve her mom in volcanic materials to force her to not leave her again and other sexual comments about breakfast and then randomly being "turned on"? I just... don't... get... it...
Also the author does that ANNOYING thing authors do where they make the characters say or think "Well, this isn't a novel." Trying to make it sound more realistic, but... it's just cringey.
It also ends with naked surfing... *rolls eyes*
I think I finished it just so I could write this review and make fun it. I'm sorry to those who enjoyed it.
I was actually able to finish it... so congratulations, Laura Silverman; however, I still hated it.
Mostly I didn't like this book because of the main character Anise. Honestly, she's not a nice person. I get it, she has her reasons because of her mom abandoning her and all, but sheeze for someone who "really cares" about her friends, she doesn't ACT like it AT ALL. She constantly is whining about having to leave her best friends for the summer and how she's worried they will forget, but then when she's away in Nebraska taking care of her family, she NEVER BOTHERS TO CONTACT THEM? WELL YEAH! They might forget you because you're just RUDE! And these are supposed to be friends she has had for 17 years (her whole life)?? What am I missing here? Why do her friends even like her to begin with? And then when she comes home, her friends AUTOMATICALLY forgive her without her even saying much or being kind of rude and pretty much saying "I didn't think about you. It was like you didn't exist at all." Would you be okay if YOUR friend did this to YOU? No.
Just doesn't make any sense. Eric seems like a very sweet, understanding friend and she kisses him and all at the beginning of the book, but then she just DROPS OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH? He was WAITING for you all summer and then in literally a few days you already are crushing on someone else?? Sadly, as readers we don't even get to know Eric at all -- he's like a 2D cardboard cutout in the book.
Honestly, I hated Anise and her whining. There was no redemption for Anise or her mother. We don't even get to meet her mom in the book. Half the story is Anise ogling a boy she barely knows and then driving across the country with him. I understand the moral is supposed to be that home is not a place but the people, but honestly, all the people in the story just suck.
There's stupid quotes like this that are supposed to be profound, but are just sad:
"But maybe that’s part of what family is—loving people you have nothing in common with."
There were also random, creepy comments about wanting to preserve her mom in volcanic materials to force her to not leave her again and other sexual comments about breakfast and then randomly being "turned on"? I just... don't... get... it...
Also the author does that ANNOYING thing authors do where they make the characters say or think "Well, this isn't a novel." Trying to make it sound more realistic, but... it's just cringey.
It also ends with naked surfing... *rolls eyes*
I think I finished it just so I could write this review and make fun it. I'm sorry to those who enjoyed it.
cacoloutti's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
randomly_kait's review against another edition
4.0
A solid 4.5 star rating. There were some things that I felt were left unresolved, which is the only reason it didn't get a full 5 stars