Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Summer of Bitter and Sweet

I can't remember where I found this recommendation, but I wish I did so I could go back and look for more. This was a great read - I loved Lou and King and really all the characters. I wish we'd seen more of Cami and Tyler because I wanted to know more about them and their lives, but I get that the book wasn't about them. I appreciated Ferguson's openness at the start of the book of what to expect in terms of content, I would love to see that from more authors.

My only real critique of the book is that it just kind of wrapped up - after so much build up and mystery, and the great atmosphere of fear and uncertainty Ferguson built, it just kind of ends. I think it deserved a bit more of a resolution than what it had. However, that is far from a reason to dismiss this book and I can't wait to read more from Ferguson.

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klutzykara's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

The coming of age story of an Indigenous teenage girl in Canada (Métis like the author herself) and the trauma, racism, discrimination, & abuse they face is an important one. I am always wanting to read more from Indigenous authors and would be interested to read more from Jen Ferguson in the future if I thought the below wouldn't be an issue.

My overall enjoyment of the story was sadly dampened by the way other topics (of identity&mental health, not the above topics) were handled. I didn't want to give this story a bad rating because Indigenous stories are so important, but because of the harm I felt and fear others could fear I feel I need to.

I was upset by the way Lou's best friend, Florence, was treated. Her manic behavior is described and glossed over, sometimes pointing out how it makes her flaky, drink too much, & cheat on her girlfriend, as well as references to not being on her meds. Yet, Lou never wants to be the one to reach out and check on her. She was cast aside, it felt like, and treated badly by the character and portrayed negatively in the writing for too long. As someone affected by this, I think that if you can't address it with care and compassion, it should not be included. I had heard it would be in the story, and knew it probably wouldn't make me feel good, but it still hurt & the story's effects stick with me.

I also think Lou's feelings that her identity (asexuality/demisexual) was a result of the trauma (her own & generational) were understandable and valid, and important to work through, but I think it may have become more harmful than helpful for some readers as it takes a while to get to Lou work through it. It would have helped a lot to have Lou to have this conversation earlier (& perhaps not with King but a family member even? It felt kind of like he was mansplaining although that could just be me and could have been better from a family member) and also for other characters' bisexuality to be discussed with more respect.. King was very flippant about it and Florence was once again not treated with much empathy.

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daniella_s's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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tojobee's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

I’m not ready to process this yet. I liked it but everything I want to say doesn’t seem quite enough. I am so appreciative of indigenous writers who remind me that Indigenous people are still here and that they have a future. This one is special. Trigger warning: non graphic mentions of sexual violence

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maddiewagner's review against another edition

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5.0

Fantastic book. One of my favorites I've read this year. The audio narrator is great. The story is a smooth flow but incorporates a lot of serious issues for indigenous (first nations) people, LGBTQIA people, black people who are living in a colonialist society. But it also incorporates the joy of teens who are about to make their way in the world and have dreams for their lives. And the ICE CREAM. I hope an ice cream shop like this actually exists and I get to visit it one day =)

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the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

This own voices story features a biracial, Indigenous Métis and asexual/demisexual main character. Lou spends the summer sorting through complicated feelings around sexuality, race, her history of trauma, her family, and her predatory rapist father reappearing in her life. It was well-told with vibrant imagery and characters you couldn't help but feel attached to.

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spinesinaline's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This was a really enjoyable read, a bit of a coming-of-age novel with the MC both figuring out her next steps after high school grad and in coming to terms with her sexuality, with tons of beautiful friends and family moments thrown in. That said, there’s a lot of trauma both directly in this story and referred to from the past so do take care when reading. The author has included an introductory letter that lays out content warnings so you can have a heads up before starting the book.

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kindredbooks's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

4.5

I received a copy of The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson from HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.

There is a lot of trauma within these pages of The Summer of Bitter and Sweet - something that even the author notes from the start of the book - to allow readers to make the choice of whether or not to pick up the book. And within all the trauma is also a story about family, strength, resilience, and surviving against all odds in a system that is designed to keep you down. We enter the story as Lou is entering a summer of transition - her mother is going to travel this summer, she's got a boyfriend who is pressuring her into things that she doesn't enjoy, and her white biological father is out of prison and is reaching out. This is a story about a Métis girl who is still trying to figure out who she is, caught as she is between identities and the pressures of wanting to blend in and fit in. The story truly is one that is bitter and sweet - the reality and trauma behind Lou's story and the hope that endures that the world and its people can be changed for the better when we are able to find the right people around us to face and fight the injustices.

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