Pro: The perfect summer read and exactly what I needed (and hoped it would be!)
Con: Nothing, really.
The Bottom Line: I needed
a fun, perky summer book and this one was just what the doctor ordered.
The second I saw this book at work and read the summary, I
wanted to read it. I finally managed to crack it open when I had a few days
off, the sun was out, and I could sit poolside and enjoy it. And enjoy it I
did.
Cricket Thompson is thrilled that she can finally see the
beautiful island that is Nantucket when her friend Jules invites her to stay
with her family. But when tragedy strikes, the plans go awry, and Cricket ends
up on Nantucket alone. Luckily she manages to get a job – it’s not exactly a
dream come true, but at least she’s still on the island. Where white sandy
beaches stretch out, some surprises await, and she might just fall in love with
a boy she never expected to grow close to – and one that she’s really supposed
to stay away from.
I liked this book from the start. Cricket is a character
that you can really get into. She’s lively on the page, and you get a great
feel for the friendship she and Jules have, which is excellent considering that
the big tragedy that one usually finds near the middle or in this case maybe
even at the end of the book happens right away. I have to say, it’s been a
while since I’ve read a book where something that big happens at that juncture,
and that alone made this book worth reading.
I loved Leila Howland’s writing. I loved her descriptions of
Nantucket, from the houses to the scenery. Heck, after reading this book I really wanted to go to Nantucket – or at
least the beach. There was plenty going on to keep everything interesting; a
few little side stories to run alongside the main conflict kept me reading even
when I got to a point where I thought I should stop and save some book for
later. Nope. I gobbled this book up in one day. It’s also why I opted for a
teen summer read rather than an adult one. While there is some sadness and
necessary issues, they don’t overflow off of the pages. Main characters aren’t
depressed and love isn’t all that complicated (I tried Kristin Hannah’s On Mystic Lake next – I still haven’t
finished it because everyone is always soooo sad or torn about something).
I think my only qualm was I didn’t quite get how old Jules’s
brother was from the get-go, so it was hard for me to picture some scenes later
on. He was labeled as Jules’s younger brother so I automatically bumped him
down to about 14. But that might also be because I’m 29 and not 17 anymore.
I really do recommend this book for one last summer fling.
Buy it for a beach read, an escape into summer (during winter), or just for a
good story. I know I’m happy to have it on my shelf.
NT
Notes from the playlist: "A Strange New World" by Brian D'oliveira
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