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

Non Spoilers: This book was very nesessary and it had a really good message to promote. With that being said, I didn't really like the book. Not that the book is bad, but that it wasn't for me. Which makes me really sad because the book had such a good theme\message to it. Lou's journey of self-discovery, forgiveness and growthbwas really compelling, I just didn't like the execution.
I do recommend the book to everyone though. I can see lots of people really liking the book and connecting with it. Give it a read if you can.
***SPOILERS***

I was really confused in this book. I felt that some of the things that happened felt off with previous chapters, established character traits and the book in general.
Maybe it was mentioned in the book, but I was really confused to why Florence was working in Lou's Uncle's icecream shop in the summer, when she lives in Ireland. How does she know Lou? Also as an Irish person, I can confirm that we don't end every sentence with 'love' or 'pet'. That is only Granny's. We do use the terms sometimes, but not as often as Florence.
Peter England is so random. Why does he care so much if Lou says he is her biological Father anyways? I am really sad that there are actual arseholes liks him actually living in the world currently.
Lou really couldn't admit anything to herself. 'Nobody feels the way I do', girl, there is an entire community of people who feel the same as you. Thank you King for telling her that she is ace.
The 3 dates thing with King. I know she did actually like him, but it felt like a tease. Very Netflix teen tv show\movie of her.
There wasn't enough about Tyler. She just floated in and out of the story and I felt that I didn't know that much about her.
I do like this book, but I just don't know if this is the best version of it. The message was so good and the social problems that it tackled and highlighted were so well done. I just wish that the narrtive to accompany it was as good.

Content Warnings

daniella_s's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Content Warnings

the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

paperbackparker's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective tense 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? It's complicated

3.0

Content Warnings

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.0

This book took me longer to read than usual, and that's definitely not because of the writing. Ferguson dives into some really tough topics, topics that are not always easy to read. Lou is carrying a lot of emotional baggage, on top of trying to figure out her own identity. And trying to figure out her past and her future. It's a lot for a teenager to carry, and you feel all of these emotions throughout the book.

The side characters were also really well developed, providing complex relationships for Lou all around. One of the best, most complex relationships was hers with King. King was just so patient with her, which was something she wasn't necessarily used to. I loved the way their relationship evolved throughout the book, and it evolved with the way Lou was learning about herself throughout the book.

And the discussions about asexuality! That conversation Lou has with King is so important to have in teen books, and I'm so glad that it's there. There are some other reviews that talk about the maybe not-so-great portrayal of bisxuality in this book, so I would check those out as well because there are some valid points there.

I think this is a book I'll be thinking about for a while. It's a greta debut, and I can't wait to see what Ferguson does next.

Content Warnings

kindredbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

agathecadieux's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

ARC from Harper Collins Canada/HCC frenzy

I loved this book. Such a beautiful, even if hard, story and loving characters. I don't know how a book can possibly give more in terms of beauty, complexity and ice cream! I totally recommend. Look out for TW before reading.

J'ai beaucoup aimé ce livre. Une histoire vraiment magnifique, bien que difficile, et des personnages incroyables. Je ne sais pas comment un livre pourrait être mieux en termes de beauté, de complexité et de crème glacée. Je recommande totalement. Faites attention aux TW avant de lire.

Thanks to the publishers and author for this ARC !

Content Warnings

More...