Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther

192 reviews

abbeyelizo's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad 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? It's complicated

4.25


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the_romance_bookie's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad 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? Yes

5.0


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kmsander4's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-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

4.5

A really well crafted story of love, loss, and family, all wrapped up in a fun, beachy, summer read.

Meredith and Wit are perfectly matched - as Claire knew they would be - but the story is so much more than their love story. Meredith grows into herself and begins to unravel who she is without Claire.


You'll come for the beachiness and love, but you'll stay for the deep familial bonds that'll have you reaching for your phone to call your own sister (probably to tell her to add this one to her tbr pile)!

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mimi8193's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

So addicting. I absolutely loved it. Although, at times Meredith made me mad.
It was also extremely emotional when her sister’s death was mentioned.

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cassidy_rain's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

“Let's pretend that time doesn't exist. Let's pretend that this week isn't ending. Let's pretend that we will always be us - happy, sunburnt, and tangled up together.”

I wasn’t ready to give up my summer reads just yet okay! The Summer of Broken Rules is a sweet summer, young love read. Meredith and her family are gathering at Martha’s Vineyard (where they vacation every year), for a wedding celebration. A game of Assassin is orchestrated for the wedding guests. Meredith teams up with one of the groomsmen as a tactic to get her further in the competition…

I like the themes in here. Meredith is clearly working through a lot of different emotions; she’s repairing friendships, she’s finding herself, she’s dealing with multiple forms of grief.  The assassin’s game seemed a little silly at first, but actually ending up being a fun and exciting inclusion. 

While I do think this is a cute, easy read, I did find it a bit lacking. (I love a cheesy, predictable summer love as much as the next girl but ultimately this was forgettable). The characters are cute but I felt they were lacking depth and chemistry. Insta-love is not the trope for me and the romance was very rushed. Despite being a major theme throughout the story, the grief did not feel overly believable to me. The dialogue was pretty cheesy at times. There are a LOT of characters to keep track of which left me confused (even with the addition of the family tree). I probably would have liked this one a bit more if I read it when I was younger! 

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emmarose1989's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-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 really enjoyed this book!! I found it at Target one day when I was browsing the book section and I picked it up and thought it looked interesting. I read that it had good reviews, and had some Taylor Swift references which ultimately sold me. As a Taylor fan I am a sucker for references in books. I loved the plot I thought it was really interesting and unique. I loved the characters except for Luli she really made me angry but I was happy that she apologized at the end. 

I especially loved the romance between Meredith and Wit. It was so cute. I liked how the plot tied in the whole family and navigating life after losing Claire and how they have all come together to celebrate the wedding of Sarah and Michael. It made the book have more depth for me. 

I will say I’m not 100% sure on what the “broken rules” were but nonetheless I still really enjoyed it. One of the best books I’ve read this year! If you’re looking for a quick cute summer read definitely pick this one up! 

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alicacila's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0


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jess_cooper45's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

Super cute and many funny moments, heartfelt book.
I really loved the ending and how she decided to do her own thing for herself and not necessarily follow in a guys dreams/shadow. While still making THEM work.

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kenziegalloway's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.5

Couldn’t put the book down. Low stakes, enjoyable nonetheless. 

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pagesand_polish's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.0

The Summer of Broken Rules is a heartwarming YA novel set on the picturesque Martha’s Vineyard, where Meredith embarks on a summer of love, friendship, and family traditions while coping with the recent loss of her sister. The story blends light romance with deeper emotional themes, making it both sweet and poignant.

This book was incredibly cute and sweet, and it brought me right back to my own summers spent on the Vineyard. As someone who grew up spending two weeks there each summer, it evoked such a nostalgic, simple feeling. I especially loved the dynamic between Meredith and Wit—their alliance and banter throughout the story was heartwarming and added an extra layer of charm. While the book tackles some heavier topics, such as the death of a sibling, it balances those moments with lightheartedness and charm. Even though it’s a young adult novel, I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a sweet summer read that’s both meaningful and fun. 

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