cripcor's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
in my julian winters STAN ERA!!!!! MY GOD!!!!! HE DID IT AGAIN!!!!!!!! this book has the sweetest friend group all set in the backdrop of a beloved indie bookstore and I would die for all of them. they just Make Sense together, they're wes and nico, and ella, and coop, and anna, and zay, and kyra (and lucas!! Angel). God I'm a sucker for strong friend groups and this one!!! <33
Special mention for my most angel boy, Nicolás Alvarez, Friend of All Time, orange soda lover, skateboard champ, latine king, I love u
this book does this thing where one second you're laughing at stupid character antics, and you Hate them, 5 minutes later they say something that Hits and you're a lil misty. this book is a love letter to indie bookstores, and anybody who feels like they're a baby thrown into an adulthood-shaped pool expected to swim.
you'll be okay, you're not going to drown I promise, but if you think you might, a good friend and good book (like this one!!) definitely helps. <3
Special mention for my most angel boy, Nicolás Alvarez, Friend of All Time, orange soda lover, skateboard champ, latine king, I love u
this book does this thing where one second you're laughing at stupid character antics, and you Hate them, 5 minutes later they say something that Hits and you're a lil misty. this book is a love letter to indie bookstores, and anybody who feels like they're a baby thrown into an adulthood-shaped pool expected to swim.
you'll be okay, you're not going to drown I promise, but if you think you might, a good friend and good book (like this one!!) definitely helps. <3
itsonlytalea's review
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? Yes
3.0
booksojwhi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
claire_melanie's review
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up. The slow burn was just too slow, ended up being annoying. But a lot of depth and emotion in the last 1/3 of the book and that ending
jordb1213's review against another edition
3.0
I loved Julian Winter's story in Out Now, so I came into this with high hopes. Not only had I loved what I'd read of his so far (and the pure cuteness of his work,) it also incorporates so many of my favorite things- bookstores, queer romance! However, despite there being elements of this that I loved, I felt underwhelmed and confused. There seemed to be a lot of tonal dissonance with this book. The three plotlines never really intersected well and more seemed to be battling for time on the page. The romance develops late into the book, then is largely underwhelming. Winter's writing reads very young YA, but the themes were older (ie drug use, adulthood, sex, etc.) Because of this, I never really got into the story. There were elements of this I loved - the main cast has a wide array of queer characters (including nonbinary, QPOC, and aspec rep, which was really nice to see.) The way Winters handles themes of growing up and moving on was delightful. Lots of plot points were enjoyable and hit some of my favorite things to see in books. I'm definitely going to give Julian Winters another shot, but this just wasn't it for me.
brookeisbusyreading's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
I had to take a bit of an intermission with this one because the library copy I had checked out had a weird printing issue where ~50 pages had been re-printed. I told my library about it so hopefully they can get a new copy so other people can devour it cover to cover like I did!
In the meantime…I bought myself a copy 🫣 I mean, I ended up wanting one anyway as I was reading but I have no self-control when it comes to books.
I quickly fell in love with Wes and the comfortability in his relationship with Nico!
I have to say that I really didn’t get annoyed by how many times Wes came close to telling Nico about his crush on him. Normally I’m yelling at the characters (literally out loud - good thing I live alone). I did express my…disappointment once or twice for sure, but I think it was just because this book is so connected. It has little events, cultural references to tune your brain to, Wes’s inner turmoil of course, and hints at the other characters’ lives that kept me distracted from certain things. That was an excellent use of plot and character development, in my opinion.
Naturally, this book has an important lesson all young adults have to learn at some point - we can’t hold on to the past, and sometimes even material things, or we’ll miss what’s happening in the present.
Then there’s the voice or way the book’s written. It truly feels like I’m in Wes’s head and heart - like I’M the one who fell for Nico (though I did!). It’s not really about how connected I felt to the characters but more how I connected to the events, the things that every person faces eventually.
The Summer of Everything is an incredible friends to lovers book written in such a smooth, teen panic style. Also complete with badass queer friends, a vividly described Santa Monica setting, and mountains of music and nerdy references!
In the meantime…I bought myself a copy 🫣 I mean, I ended up wanting one anyway as I was reading but I have no self-control when it comes to books.
I quickly fell in love with Wes and the comfortability in his relationship with Nico!
Spoiler
Those two were boyfriending WAY before they confessed to each other! And it took so long! Like, poor Manu but it took getting jealous for Nico to confess to Wes! And don’t get me started on Wes himself!I have to say that I really didn’t get annoyed by how many times Wes came close to telling Nico about his crush on him. Normally I’m yelling at the characters (literally out loud - good thing I live alone). I did express my…disappointment once or twice for sure, but I think it was just because this book is so connected. It has little events, cultural references to tune your brain to, Wes’s inner turmoil of course, and hints at the other characters’ lives that kept me distracted from certain things. That was an excellent use of plot and character development, in my opinion.
Naturally, this book has an important lesson all young adults have to learn at some point - we can’t hold on to the past, and sometimes even material things, or we’ll miss what’s happening in the present.
Then there’s the voice or way the book’s written. It truly feels like I’m in Wes’s head and heart - like I’M the one who fell for Nico (though I did!). It’s not really about how connected I felt to the characters but more how I connected to the events, the things that every person faces eventually.
The Summer of Everything is an incredible friends to lovers book written in such a smooth, teen panic style. Also complete with badass queer friends, a vividly described Santa Monica setting, and mountains of music and nerdy references!
owlwithapen's review
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
welcometoellasbookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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