A review by missprint_
Two Summers by Aimee Friedman
5.0
An unexpected phone call at the airport forces Summer Everett to make a split second decision. Should she answer the phone? Should she get on the plane?
One decision will lead to two very different outcomes as Summer's choices play out in parallel worlds.
In one world Summer ignores the phone call and heads to France as planned for what should be a perfect trip. Summer is thrilled with the chance to catch up with her dad and get to see his portrait of her hanging in a fancy gallery--all while enjoying the beautiful French countryside.
In the other world Summer answers the phone and her plans are ruined. No trip to France. No time with Dad. Just three boring months off from school in her same old small town. She has the chance to take a photography class for the first time, but it's hard to think of that as anything but a consolation prize.
Neither outcome is quite what Summer expects.
In France or her home town Summer will find unexpected surprises and growing pains, along with the promise of first love and self-discovery. Each vacation will also bring Summer closer to a shocking secret whose revelation will have lasting repercussions regardless of Summer's initial choice. Some decisions might lead Summer to the same outcomes in both worlds, but it's up to her to decide what shape her life will take from here in Two Summers (2016) by Aimee Friedman.
Two Summers gives readers the best of both worlds in this two-for-one story of one (or perhaps two) pivotal summers.
Summer is a smart, authentic narrator who learns a lot in each plot whether its how to stand up for herself in France or how to appreciate her own artistic abilities in a photography class at home. Throughout the novel Summer also learns how to be alone and how to step out of her comfort zone. Sweet romances and well-developed characters round out this charming novel that brings the lazy heat and possibility of a long summer vacation to life.
Careful plotting allows readers to watch both timelines play out in "real" time with little nods to the dual narrative which help to bring a cohesive quality to the overall story. The idea of causality and that some outcomes are inevitable is another interesting thread throughout as Two Summers builds toward a satisfying conclusion for both plots. A great summery story and a delightful introduction for readers hoping to give time travel and parallel worlds a chance. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: Parallel by Lauren Miller, Now That You're Here by Amy K. Nichols, Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young, The Square Root of Summer by Harrier Reuter Hapgood, Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson, The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski, Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone, Pivot Point by Kasie West, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
*An advance copy of this title was acquired from the publisher for review consideration*
One decision will lead to two very different outcomes as Summer's choices play out in parallel worlds.
In one world Summer ignores the phone call and heads to France as planned for what should be a perfect trip. Summer is thrilled with the chance to catch up with her dad and get to see his portrait of her hanging in a fancy gallery--all while enjoying the beautiful French countryside.
In the other world Summer answers the phone and her plans are ruined. No trip to France. No time with Dad. Just three boring months off from school in her same old small town. She has the chance to take a photography class for the first time, but it's hard to think of that as anything but a consolation prize.
Neither outcome is quite what Summer expects.
In France or her home town Summer will find unexpected surprises and growing pains, along with the promise of first love and self-discovery. Each vacation will also bring Summer closer to a shocking secret whose revelation will have lasting repercussions regardless of Summer's initial choice. Some decisions might lead Summer to the same outcomes in both worlds, but it's up to her to decide what shape her life will take from here in Two Summers (2016) by Aimee Friedman.
Two Summers gives readers the best of both worlds in this two-for-one story of one (or perhaps two) pivotal summers.
Summer is a smart, authentic narrator who learns a lot in each plot whether its how to stand up for herself in France or how to appreciate her own artistic abilities in a photography class at home. Throughout the novel Summer also learns how to be alone and how to step out of her comfort zone. Sweet romances and well-developed characters round out this charming novel that brings the lazy heat and possibility of a long summer vacation to life.
Careful plotting allows readers to watch both timelines play out in "real" time with little nods to the dual narrative which help to bring a cohesive quality to the overall story. The idea of causality and that some outcomes are inevitable is another interesting thread throughout as Two Summers builds toward a satisfying conclusion for both plots. A great summery story and a delightful introduction for readers hoping to give time travel and parallel worlds a chance. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: Parallel by Lauren Miller, Now That You're Here by Amy K. Nichols, Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young, The Square Root of Summer by Harrier Reuter Hapgood, Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson, The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski, Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone, Pivot Point by Kasie West, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
*An advance copy of this title was acquired from the publisher for review consideration*