A review by remi_jane
Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

informative lighthearted relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

  • I had such high hopes for this one. Mainly because of the plot, which was set in Martha’s Vineyard. I have always wanted to visit that island! However, the location was where my love for this book started and stopped. 
  • I liked that the FMC (Sam) was neurodivergent (dyslexic). However, Sam constantly talked about being dyslexic. It was her entire personality. She dragged herself down daily because of it. It made it to where she literally couldn’t function in day-to-day activities. Her disability was used as a crutch. By the end, she was no better, she never overcame her adversities or stopped labeling herself as “broken”. We never saw any healing or growth from her. 
  • It’s perfect fate that she meets Ben, an avid reader. Opposite’s definitely attracted in this situation. However, I felt like we never got to know Ben. We just knew about him in relation to Sam. This book could have benefitted with a dual POV. 
  • I didn’t like how (before she told him her disability), she kept making comments about how an avid reader could never fall in love with a non-reader. This was repeated several times. It got annoying, honestly, because that honestly how it is in most relationships— one is a book lover and the other isn’t. At least it’s like that with my husband and I. And he admits that he never once thought I wouldn’t like him because he didn’t like books😂
  • For the first 50% of the book, the story was more about her adapting to her temporary home, finding a job, reconnecting with her bff, and building a better relationship with her half brother. Romance felt like a subplot. 
  • The plot felt slicey and dicey. It didn’t flow as nice as I would have liked. 
  • The narrators voice sounded very formal, given the subject of the plot. Her voice didn’t fit the story or the main character.