Summer Lovin', Had Me A Blast

"Without a best friend to tell stories to, it almost didn't matter if they even happened."
--Leila Howland, Nantucket Blue

Genre: YA Contemporary

Publisher: Disney Hyperion, 294 pages

Publication Date: May 7th, 2013

Source: Borrowed
Goodreads

Goodreads Description

For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t.

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue.

My Thoughts

Daaayum, I am on a contemporary role, y’all! Ok, so I just got back from Georgia where I read Nantucket Blue at the end of my trip and WHAT a trip and book this was. So Betty and Cass have been obsessed with this book for months and been telling me to read it. We all know I don’t gravitate towards contemporary but seriously guys, it is books like this and my few other contemporary loves that make me rethink my hesitation.

Nantucket Blue was everything I wanted from a summer and vacation read. Fun yet emotional. Light while still dealing with a lot of real issues. Hard to explain because it definitely dealt with a lot of complex emotions, it was fun and uplifting at the same time. Most importantly, it kept me wanting, no, NEEDING to turn the pages as fast as I could. I devoured it. I adored this book. Cricket Thompson is a cool chick, yo. Her characterization felt so real that I felt like I knew her. I loved that she had insecurities and flaws but worked to better herself. She was a fantastic friend to Jules, even when that wasn’t reciprocated, and she remained true to herself. But what I loved the most about her was her independence. She worked for what she wanted and took the reigns on her life. She wanted a summer in Nantucket, and she did everything she could to get it. Things most teenagers would never even consider (chambermaid?!).

What I also loved about this book was the portrayal of the friendship between Cricket and Jules. I have had issues with females for almost my entire life. I was bullied throughout my entire adolescence and what Jules does to Cricket had my chest hurting. It brought back so many painful memories because I have experienced what Cricket went through SO many times. That feeling of betrayal and loss of trust in a friend is raw and unforgiving. I connected so much with Cricket’s situation that I felt her pain right along with her. It sucks. Majorly.

The writing of this book drops your literary anchor right into the heart of Nantucket. I have never in my life wanted to be an East Coastie who had wealth and power more than while reading this book. I want summers in Nantucket! Cute little seaside town, hot boys, beaches, fireworks! Oh the joy of being young…and rich…and having a fabulous summer home…but I digress. But for serious, this book made me want to go to Nantucket IMMEDIATELY! I shall now start looking into visiting, for reals. I loved the description of the town and I felt like I was transported there while reading. I couldn’t put this book down!

And what’s a summer read without a summer romance?!? Ok, I adored this relationship. MILD SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN’T READ AND DON’T WANT TO KNOW WHO CRICKET GETS INVOLVED WITH STOP READING…..

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OK, so why aren’t more people talking about Zack Clayton?!? I totally fell hard in crush love with this boy. Smart, down to earth, doesn’t give a shit what people think about him, wears cool glasses. Geek chic-tastic. Oh, was I swooning! I loved the unexpectedness of it. I loved the build-up. The anticipation of their kiss and what would happen was just perfect. The progression of their relationship was honest and real and didn’t sugar coat things *ahem* But seriously, reading about Cricket falling for him was beautiful and I just couldn’t stop reading about them…*sigh*

This is the perfect summer read and I just loved feeling like I was having my own personal Nantucket summer. I only hope that I can see Nantucket blue live sometime soon…next year’s summer vacay?...I hope so.

Should You Read This? Totally. Contemporary without fluff. Adorable romance. Fantastic setting. Honest friendship dynamics. Check this out.