Expected Publication: April 9, 2019
Publisher: Tor Teen
Genre(s): Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Format: Hardcover, Ebook
Pages: 288
Aiden Emerson is an all-star pitcher and the all-around golden boy of Riverton. Or at least he was, before he quit the team the last day of junior year without any explanation. How could he tell people he’s losing his vision at seventeen?
Straight-laced Olivia thought she had life all figured out. But when her dream internship falls apart, her estranged mother comes back into her life, and her long-time boyfriend ghosts her right before summer break, she’s starting to think fate has a weird sense of humor.
Each struggling to find a new direction, Aiden and Olivia decide to live summer by chance. Every fleeting adventure and stolen kiss is as fragile as a coin flip in this heartfelt journey to love and self-discovery from the author of Love Songs & Other Lies.
Fun and Sweet Summer Beach Read with Plenty of Swoons.
This precious book absolutely warmed my heart and left such a big smile on my face! When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington was the perfect cozy beach read and I was smitten with writing, the adorable characters, and the beautiful sceneries.
Here’s a little confession – I was approved for Love Song and Other Lies through Netgalley when I first started writing reviews and got a little carried away requesting for all the books I wanted to read. I never expected to get approved for so many and then BAM!! I had way more ARCS than I ever expected and I was overwhelmed. I’m still quite behind, but I’m slowly making progress. Anyway, I mentioning this because I LOVED When Summer Ends and Pennington’s writing is utterly beautiful and so wonderfully touching. I have a new to me author to add to my favorite list and I’m so excited to read whatever else she writes and to FINALLY read her debut novel this summer… which is when I’m planning on tackling my Netgalley TBR.
Okay, so now back to my review. You already know I loved the writing which was also really easy to read and had a lovely effortless flow. I thought the imagery, setting, and all the descriptions of the places were amazingly detailed and very fascinating. I felt like I was going on an adventure and exploring with Aiden and Olivia. From paddling down the river, swimming in the dark, and hiking to Aiden’s favorite places – I enjoyed every moment and had so much fun! The plot was a bit slow at times, but definitely not dull and never uninteresting. It was filled with fun lighthearted drama, adorably funny scenes, and sweet tender moments. I actually thought this would be emotionally heavy, but even though it wasn’t, it still made me cry. I liked and did not like the ending. Something happened that just made me feel like it was too convenient and I was hoping for a different, but still a HEA conclusion. Overall, I did think it wrapped up nicely and I was happy for the characters.
I LOVED Aiden and Olivia as individuals and as a couple. I really enjoyed their friendship and romance. I loved seeing them do new things and take chances. It was really nice to see how their relationship grew into something more. It was perfectly slow burn and the FEELS were totally amazing! They were so wonderful, intriguing, and likable. I loved their chemistry, their bantering, their playful flirtations, their swoony scenes, and all their adorable moments together. I thought they were so cute together and it was positively endearing to watch them not only learn from each other but also challenge each other to be better.
I love books that can make me feel connected to the characters and experience all their emotions. When Summer Ends did not disappoint and filled my heart with so much happy I can’t stop smiling just thinking about it. It was a beautiful story about moving on, taking chances, chasing new dreams, and falling in love. When you think everything seems to be falling apart, just remember that there might be something better — an unexpected new beginning or a wonderful surprise waiting for you. I really loved this book and Jessica Pennington is without a doubt an amazing storyteller that needs to be added on your TBR list!
This was a fun and sweet summer romance story with plenty of swoons that I think many contemporary romance fans will enjoy. It was heartfelt, absolutely charming, and a delightfully affecting read.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author and publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Jessica Pennington is no stranger to the combination of love and drama. She’s a wedding planner, after all. A writer since the age of ten—when she sought publication for her poem about a tree—Jessica likes the challenge of finding the humor in a sad situation or highlighting the awkwardness in a romantic one. She lives in a Michigan beach town suspiciously similar to the one in her novel, with her husband Josh and their son, Rory. She is the author of Love Songs & Other Lies, and When Summer Ends (April 2019). Find Jessica on twitter at @jessnpennington and IG @jessicapennington
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Hope you enjoyed reading my review. Have you read this book? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.
Sincerely Karen Jo 