Huntley Fitzpatrick

Quick Thoughts
1. I thought this was a really sweet summery romance book. It satisfied my need for some contemporary once summer hit.
2. I really loved that plot twist at the end of this book. I wasn't expecting it at all and it was heartbreaking.
3. I enjoyed seeing the differences between these two families. It made it better that they were complete opposites and it was cool seeing both characters figure out each other's families.
4. This was just a great, easy to read book and I would recommend it for sure!… (more)

"[There's] more to life than what you are scared of."

a lovely tale about summer "picnic" girls and the rich kids who storm in every summer. Gwen is not your average girl. She's spent a lot of years growing old and wise - even though she's only 17.
But Gwen thinks she knows everything that's going on in her small small coastal town. It's a small town, no one gets away with secrets.

Or do they?

This is one summer in Gwen's life. One summer full of her cousin Nic, her little brother Emory, Cass, Spence, Viv and all the secrets that come to light. You can easily hide things in their little Seashell town behind closed doors. Now, once they all come to light, everyone just has to figure out how to keep going.… (more)

a story that just catches you in the beginning and doesn't let you go.

Samantha's life is pretty on the outside - just like a house. But if you go inside, thing are too tidy, too neat for anyone to do anything but just survive.

And the Garret's next door. Her mom has never had a nice thing to say about them. But Sam sits at the top of her roof and watches their life with their kids and 2 parents and she can't help but wonder.

what would her life next door be like?

then Jase climbs up her trellis, sits next to her, and offers her a chance.

And for the record, those parents/adults that made horrible comments to Mrs. Garrett while grocery shopping make me want to scream. :( so wrong!… (more)

Cover is wrong; Gwen is 5' 11'.

Begins like a sequel... since it's not, I guess I'll be reading lots of flashbacks for the reveals. Not my fave, but oh well.
---
2/3 done. If the boy and the girl would just talk to each other a tiny bit, honestly admit just a little, the whole book would be unnecessary. This is why I don't read much YA.

Also whatever happened to her summer job? She's so busy doing everything else with different members of her family, different friends, not to mention the boy... when is she working, and why is it not something for her to react to/think about, and something for me to read about? It promised to be an interesting and thematic sub-plot but not so much... yet?
---
Ok, some of that stuff came. The issue about the summer job squicks me, though. That sub-plot is exploitive, just for the sake of furthering Gwen's growth, not authentic or respectful to people who would be in that situation irl.

And now I'm nearly done and it's turning out that everyone needs to talk more and be more honest with everyone else. What a soap opera.
---
Ok done. I guess an extra half star for the theme of island kids vs. rich summer people handled with respect to complexities. But I'm still rounding down to two stars: it was ok.

One thing that bothers me is bad editorial & proofreading work. A mirror like a "portal" of a ship? And why so very many plots and subplots? Yes, everybody has a story, and yes, readers like me need to learn to be less judgemental about ppl irl who have their own story, but really, did every single one here have to be included?

Ah well. I've def. read worse YA and would not disrespect those readers who do like this book.… (more)