The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants meets 13 Little Blue Envelopes in this new young adult novel about a tight-knit, daring, and eclectic group of friends who dedicate every summer to completing their #SummerSistersBucketList together – that is until one of their own passes away.
I'm excited to be hosting a spot on the WHEN WE HAD SUMMER by Jennifer Castle Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Title: WHEN WE HAD SUMMER
Author: Jennifer Castle
Pub. Date: April 25, 2023
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 336
Best friends Carly, Daniella, Lainie, and Penny – aka the self-proclaimed #SummerSisters – have been coming to the New Jersey shore town of Ocean Park Heights ever since they could remember. And every year, the girls make a bucket list and dedicate their entire summer to completing every item on it, documenting their wacky escapades on FotoSlam for everyone to see. It’s their tradition, and as long as the Summer Sisters had each other, the rocky jetty on the shore, and their bucket list, that would never change. Right? But then, tragedy strikes after Carly – the mastermind behind the bucket list– unexpectedly passes away. As the remaining Summer Sisters try to wrap their heads around their best friend’s death, life seems determined to throw more curveballs at the girls, threatening to split the Summer Sisters up for good. Daniella is accepted to a prestigious music academy in New York City, Lainie finds out her family is moving to Florida and leaving Ocean Park Heights for good, and Penny struggles to find her footing as she feels ready to leave childhood behind more quickly than either of her friends. What will hold them together with Carly gone and the Summer Sisters seemingly over? Then, Daniella finds Carly’s final bucket list. And just like that, the Summer Sisters are back! But of course, things don’t always go as planned, and the girls try their hardest to navigate grief, loss, and coming-of-age woes while keeping the Summer Sisters – and Carly’s memory – alive.
My Review:
I give WHEN WE HAD SUMMER ⭐⭐⭐⭐!
WHEN WE HAD SUMMER is beautifully written with loveable characters. It's a wonderful story about friendship, grief, and how life changes, and when it does often our friends aren't on the same path. I enjoyed the story and I think it would be a great addition to a Middle School or High School library as a must-read for teens.
My only complaint is that this is one of those books that would be a better movie than a book. I know that sounds weird because complaints normally are the book was much better but like THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS and EVERYTHING EVERYTHING I enjoyed the movie versions over the book. Why? Well, it could be my personal preference for the stories I read. I want more movement as well as an external conflict with the internal in books while movies with this type of storyline I feel translate better on the big screen particularly if you have a cast of outstanding actors.
With that said, if you love contemporary coming to age books about loss and friendship then you've found your next good book.
About Jennifer Castle:
Jennifer Castle is the author of twelve books for children and teens, including the novels for BLAIRE WILSON, American Girl's Girl of the Year 2019. Her YA novels published by HarperCollins include THE BEGINNING OF AFTER, which was an American Library Association Best Fiction for Young Adults selection, YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE, WHAT HAPPENS NOW, and TOGETHER AT MIDNIGHT. Her four-book middle-grade fantasy series from Bloomsbury USA is BUTTERFLY WISHES. She’s also the co-author of two non-fiction books, FAMOUS FRIENDS: BEST BUDS, ROCKY RELATIONSHIPS, AND AWESOMELY ODD COUPLES FROM PAST TO PRESENT and FRIENDS AND FRENEMIES: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE AWKWARD. Jennifer lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband, two daughters, and two cats/writing assistants on the edge of deep woods that are most definitely filled with magic...she just hasn't found it yet. You can visit her online at www.jennifercastle.com.
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of WHEN WE HAD SUMMER, US Only.
Ends May 6th, midnight EST.