That Summer by Sarah DessenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
That Summer is Sarah Dessen's first novel, written in 1996. It is also part of the mash-up with Someone Like You that made up the movie How to Deal starring Mandy Moore. I didn't love Someone Like You, and I've tended to like Dessen's newer works better than her older novels. So the fact that I really enjoyed this one delighted me.
Haven is a 15-year old who is having the worst summer of her life. She's experiencing a growth spurt that puts her at nearly 6 feet tall, her sister is getting married, her dad is getting remarried, and her best friend has turned into a totally different person than she used to be all because of a guy she fell in love with at 4-H camp. Everything around her is changing and Haven doesn't feel like anyone understands how much it is affecting her. That is, until her sister's ex-boyfriend, Sumner Lee, shows back up in town.
This book is less of a typical Dessen love story, and more about sisterhood. You really sense how Haven is at such an awkward stage--torn between wanting to be independent, but realizing more than ever how much she needs the people around her. I thought this book was really sweet and I even shed a tear or two at the end.
Also reviewed by:
Book 8 of 100 for the 100+ Reading Challenge
Book 6 of 50 for the YA Reading Challenge
Book 6 of 50 for the RYOB Challenge
Source: BookMooch
6 comments:
Sarah Dessen is someone I have been hearing about for a long time but just haven't had the opportunity to read her work. I have a copy of Lock and Key and I plan on reading that this year. I don't know if it is older or newer, but I really hope that I like it.
I haven't read any of Dessen's work, but it really sounds like I need to.
I've granted you an award! Enjoy!
http://gerberadaisydiaries.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-lovely-blog-award.html
With as much YA as I read, I can't believe I haven't read a book by Sarah Dessen. I need to this year!
I read this 2 years back but still remember the good feeling on reading it. She is one of my fav YA authors
That Summer is the book that introduced me to my love of Sarah Dessen, I'm so glad you liked it. Thanks for the link love!
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