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Three Day Summer
Michael is unsure about most things. Go to college? Enlist in the military? Break up with his girlfriend? All big question marks. He is living for the moment and all he wants is a few days at the biggest concert of the summer.
Cora lives in the town hosting the music festival. She's volunteering in the medical tent. She's like that, always the good girl. But there is something in the air at this concert and suddenly Cora finds herself wanting to push her own boundaries.
When Michael and Cora meet, sparks fly, hearts race, and all the things songs are written about come true. And all the while, three days of the most epic summer await them...
Cora lives in the town hosting the music festival. She's volunteering in the medical tent. She's like that, always the good girl. But there is something in the air at this concert and suddenly Cora finds herself wanting to push her own boundaries.
When Michael and Cora meet, sparks fly, hearts race, and all the things songs are written about come true. And all the while, three days of the most epic summer await them...
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2015
13 people are currently reading
2741 people want to read
About the author
Sarvenaz Tash
11 books352 followersSarvenaz Tash is the author of of nine novels (and counting) for kids, young adults, and adults including The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love, A Whole Song and Dance, and The Queen of Ocean Parkway. Her books have won awards and recognition from the Junior Library Guild, the American Library Association, Amazon, Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly to name a few. She was born in Tehran, Iran and grew up on Long Island, NY. She received her BFA in Film and Television from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, which means she got to spend most of college running around and making movies (it was a lot of fun). Sarvenaz currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
July 11, 2015
Quick read but lacked substance, I wasn't a fan of the characters or the overall story, I was pretty disappointed :(
January 22, 2015
A fantastic, well-paced story with so much heart, humor, music, and love that I'm jealous of everyone who will be reading it for the first time this summer. I can't wait to get my copy--especially with that gorgeous cover-- and re-experience Cora and Michael's foray into Woodstock in the Summer of '69. For those of us who were born long after the festival, I think this is the second best thing to being there!
April 19, 2015
I am a huge music fan, so the idea of a book revolving around Woodstock was everything I could have wanted. Thankfully, it didn't disappoint.
Loved Cora and Michael. They're such opposites, but it really works. Michael makes Cora a little spontaneous and Cora makes Michael a bit grounded. The festival and the fun liberties that happened were a perfect background. It perfectly captured what I imagine the atmosphere of the 60s was. Especially during this 3 day weekend.
My only complaint is that I wish we had more time with them. This slice that we got was fantastic, but I definitely would have liked more.
**Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
Loved Cora and Michael. They're such opposites, but it really works. Michael makes Cora a little spontaneous and Cora makes Michael a bit grounded. The festival and the fun liberties that happened were a perfect background. It perfectly captured what I imagine the atmosphere of the 60s was. Especially during this 3 day weekend.
My only complaint is that I wish we had more time with them. This slice that we got was fantastic, but I definitely would have liked more.
**Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
January 27, 2015
I count A Walk On The Moon among my favorite movies and loved that this book captured the tone of Woodstock in much the same way. Michael and Cora were both very likable and their verbal exchanges were completely adorable- I bought into their relationship completely. I also loved that both were struggling with the "what comes next for me" question, which fit so well with the uncertainty of that period in history (Cora has ambitions to be a doctor at a time when women were considered nurses or nothing and Michael doesn't know what he wants to do other than "not get drafted"). The dual POV kept the pacing fast and I read this in one sitting! Highly recommend- only wish it came with an attached soundtrack because the musical descriptions were so evocative.
September 23, 2015
3.5 Stars
Woodstock! Three days of love, peace, mud and music. Count me in!
Three Day Summer introduces readers to Michael and Cora. Both characters shared their stories in humorous, likeable and realistic voices that made me smile. Michael so unsure of what or where to go in life and Cora so certain of her path created the perfect yin & yang couple. Opposites that find each other in a sea of people and music.
”I let the music wash over me and give in to it, feeling that our bodies know everything they need to know and that nothing but beauty surrounds us.”
I loved the setting and mood of this book. A sense of I-can’t-believe-I’m-here-with-all-of-these-people blended with a beautiful vibe of sharing and community. The festival remains a remarkable weekend for music, history, and a generation. But can you truly find romance in a mass of musical chaos? Tune in and find out.
So why the three stars? There really isn’t one big thing to point to and say that’s it, that’s why this story didn’t make me over the moon happy. I just didn’t like or enjoy every word, character, or plot point. For me, this was a sweet, groovy romance to get lost in for a couple of days. Lost in the music. I’ve been listening to Janis on repeat ever since. :)
Hope you pick up Three Day Summer and listen.
May 17, 2015
I zipped through this in a few hours, and honestly didn't want to be at the end of the book when I got there. I've never really had much of an affection for Woodstock (while many of my favorite bands played the festival, my natural aversion to crowds and being-away-from-showers has always made me think that I would've had a miserable time there, which also explains why I don't go to music festivals today) but Three Day Summer has made me reconsider those feelings.
Tash does a great job of making the weekend seem like the magical event that it's always been heralded as, even with the mud and the freaked-out hippies and the mud and the bad drugs and also the mud. Having both of the main characters narrate the book is a great way to tell the story - it gives us the points of view of both those that lived near the site of the concert (with a peek at how it affected them) along with those who traveled from other locations. Also, I've totally got a crush on Cora.
Is that weird?
Tash does a great job of making the weekend seem like the magical event that it's always been heralded as, even with the mud and the freaked-out hippies and the mud and the bad drugs and also the mud. Having both of the main characters narrate the book is a great way to tell the story - it gives us the points of view of both those that lived near the site of the concert (with a peek at how it affected them) along with those who traveled from other locations. Also, I've totally got a crush on Cora.
Is that weird?
March 20, 2015
I love books that transport me to another place and time, and THREE DAY SUMMER did just that! Throw in the fact that it’s brimming with music history and takes place in the summer, and you had me at “Thursday, August 16” (1969). It was a pleasure spending time with Michael and Cora and through them experiencing the three days of love and peace in Bethel, New York that were Woodstock. Told in alternating points of view, we get to know Michael and Cora and see how this pivotal event leads them each to a personal epiphany and perhaps true love. I could have easily spent more than three days with these charming characters at Yasgur’s farm. Perhaps Sarvenaz Tash will consider a companion novel?
February 8, 2017
More like 3.5 stars. I enjoyed it and it was a very quick read, but the plot & characters were very superficial. I feel like I barely knew them, even after I turned the last page.
April 6, 2016
Actual rating: 3.5
- Fabulous writing
- Michael and Cora had really distinctive POVs and personalities
- Cool to learn about what goes on at three day concert events
- Cute romance
- Fabulous writing
- Michael and Cora had really distinctive POVs and personalities
- Cool to learn about what goes on at three day concert events
- Cute romance
May 26, 2015
Please. Like a YA book set at Woodstock could be less than amazing? Really enjoyed this one!
February 13, 2016
An amazing book about Love, Peace and War. About music. About two teenagers crossing paths. About finding out your destination.
The book is told from two POVs. We got Michael and we have Cora. They each have their problems and worries. Michael for instance is unsure about his future, he doesn't really want to be drafted, but he also doesn't feel like going to college. Cora on the other hand has plans, but plans that are frowned upon. She wants to become a doctor. Female doctors are rare and she loves taking care of people, she loves helping them. Add to this problem the fact her boyfriend Ned broke up with her (for probably the reason that she wants more than just be a nurse).
These two wonderful teens meet each other and they hit off.
I normally hate cheating, and I dislike that it is added. However, it felt different with this one, I didn't even notice that they were cheating, and all in all they kept it all pretty respectful. For most of the time they were just being friendly, and sure at times borders were almost crossed, but one of them would back away.
In other reviews I read there would be Instalove, and while there was a definite attraction between the two, I don't think it was Instalove. I would say it is Instalove if characters would act like this: OMG THIS MUST BE MY SOUL MATE! HAVE MY BABIES!! OMG This is destiny!
In this one they do notice each other, but I wouldn't call it Instalove, more that they were commenting on each others appearance. Which earns Michael the name Peach Fuzz. :) It was cute, but at that point I didn't see a spark just yet. Just 2 people passing each other and seeing how the other one looks.
Even their second meeting isn't that OMG Instalove. Michael is too far gone to even remember anything and he sees Cora as some kind of bird goddess, not as a human, and he talks in lots of shades of crazy.
I didn't see a spark pass until much further in the story, probably around the time that they decide to stick together. But even there it was a smaller spark, the bigger spark fell quite a bit later, and it made me happy that this was done.
You have 2 people who are finding out about each other, finding they have a lot in common, find out that they like each other. It was really fun to see them get closer and closer to each other, but staying away and dancing on the border of getting super close, since Michael still had a girlfriend.
I really adored Cora, she was a great character and I loved how she had her dreams and hopes set big, and how she worked hard to get them fulfilled. I can see a bright future for her. In the beginning she is bit timid and shy, but you can see her grow with each chapter, with each day. And around the middle/near the end she finally did something I was just waiting and hoping for. You can imagine that I cheered really loud.
Michael was a fun character, though I didn't like how he treated Amanda. Amanda was a bitch, and a hypocrite, but no one deserves being treated like this. Michael should have broken up with her before everything happened. Just be clear about it.
But you can see him struggle with it throughout the book. He wants to break up, he wants to be with Cora. However, what he did in the later parts of the book were a no-no.
I also liked that he was thinking so hard about his future. He did try to think of doing something, as he had to make a decision soon. Drafting or College. It made him seem more real. As I can imagine that you might not want to go to college yet, but yeah, you also don't want to be drafted. It is a tough choice, and it is sad that people have to make that choice. That they can't pick another thing.
And that is also the wonderful thing about the book, it isn't about Woodstock alone. It isn't about music, sex, drugs alone. It also tells us how the situation at Woodstock got out of hand. How there was no food, how the military had to help out. It also tells us about Vietnam, the war there and the people that fight there (Cora's brother). It shows us hippies, people protesting and so much more. The book was truly fantastic and I really enjoyed that it wasn't just about one thing. It wasn't about a fantastic weekend, it was about more than that. It shows us the world as it was around that time. And it was all super interesting.
All in all this book had everything that was awesome. We have engaging characters, great backstories, an interesting world/time period, music and so much more. The only thing I didn't like, and thankfully it was only once, was the drug part. It was just a bit too weird to read what Michael thought. So I mostly skipped through that part.
I also loved that this book was separated in days. It just made the book more alive and more fun.
This one is now on my list of books that I absolutely adore and love and can't wait to have physically on my bookshelves. Highly recommended to everyone!!!
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
The book is told from two POVs. We got Michael and we have Cora. They each have their problems and worries. Michael for instance is unsure about his future, he doesn't really want to be drafted, but he also doesn't feel like going to college. Cora on the other hand has plans, but plans that are frowned upon. She wants to become a doctor. Female doctors are rare and she loves taking care of people, she loves helping them. Add to this problem the fact her boyfriend Ned broke up with her (for probably the reason that she wants more than just be a nurse).
These two wonderful teens meet each other and they hit off.
I normally hate cheating, and I dislike that it is added. However, it felt different with this one, I didn't even notice that they were cheating, and all in all they kept it all pretty respectful. For most of the time they were just being friendly, and sure at times borders were almost crossed, but one of them would back away.
In other reviews I read there would be Instalove, and while there was a definite attraction between the two, I don't think it was Instalove. I would say it is Instalove if characters would act like this: OMG THIS MUST BE MY SOUL MATE! HAVE MY BABIES!! OMG This is destiny!
In this one they do notice each other, but I wouldn't call it Instalove, more that they were commenting on each others appearance. Which earns Michael the name Peach Fuzz. :) It was cute, but at that point I didn't see a spark just yet. Just 2 people passing each other and seeing how the other one looks.
Even their second meeting isn't that OMG Instalove. Michael is too far gone to even remember anything and he sees Cora as some kind of bird goddess, not as a human, and he talks in lots of shades of crazy.
I didn't see a spark pass until much further in the story, probably around the time that they decide to stick together. But even there it was a smaller spark, the bigger spark fell quite a bit later, and it made me happy that this was done.
You have 2 people who are finding out about each other, finding they have a lot in common, find out that they like each other. It was really fun to see them get closer and closer to each other, but staying away and dancing on the border of getting super close, since Michael still had a girlfriend.
I really adored Cora, she was a great character and I loved how she had her dreams and hopes set big, and how she worked hard to get them fulfilled. I can see a bright future for her. In the beginning she is bit timid and shy, but you can see her grow with each chapter, with each day. And around the middle/near the end she finally did something I was just waiting and hoping for. You can imagine that I cheered really loud.
Michael was a fun character, though I didn't like how he treated Amanda. Amanda was a bitch, and a hypocrite, but no one deserves being treated like this. Michael should have broken up with her before everything happened. Just be clear about it.
But you can see him struggle with it throughout the book. He wants to break up, he wants to be with Cora. However, what he did in the later parts of the book were a no-no.
I also liked that he was thinking so hard about his future. He did try to think of doing something, as he had to make a decision soon. Drafting or College. It made him seem more real. As I can imagine that you might not want to go to college yet, but yeah, you also don't want to be drafted. It is a tough choice, and it is sad that people have to make that choice. That they can't pick another thing.
And that is also the wonderful thing about the book, it isn't about Woodstock alone. It isn't about music, sex, drugs alone. It also tells us how the situation at Woodstock got out of hand. How there was no food, how the military had to help out. It also tells us about Vietnam, the war there and the people that fight there (Cora's brother). It shows us hippies, people protesting and so much more. The book was truly fantastic and I really enjoyed that it wasn't just about one thing. It wasn't about a fantastic weekend, it was about more than that. It shows us the world as it was around that time. And it was all super interesting.
All in all this book had everything that was awesome. We have engaging characters, great backstories, an interesting world/time period, music and so much more. The only thing I didn't like, and thankfully it was only once, was the drug part. It was just a bit too weird to read what Michael thought. So I mostly skipped through that part.
I also loved that this book was separated in days. It just made the book more alive and more fun.
This one is now on my list of books that I absolutely adore and love and can't wait to have physically on my bookshelves. Highly recommended to everyone!!!
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 13, 2016
This is one of those instances when I wish I had enjoyed a book much better than I did. When I got the email from Simon & Schuster, I knew it was something that I could really enjoy. First, because I thought it would be a perfect summer read; and second, because the story is set in the era of love, peace and music, man. I mean, Woodstock! The music festival that started all music festivals. Iconic. Historic. It was fun to read about legendary bands and performers of the time: Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker – to name a few. A walk down the memory lane and all that.
It wasn’t only those music legends that whetted my appetite. The 60s is an interesting period of time for me. I’ve always been curious about the social and political climate of the times. In this book, the author glanced over the ideals that started Woodstock: camaraderie through music, brotherhood/sisterhood transcending races and blood. It was meant to be a peaceful protest against the war, which was on everybody’s minds. Kids were terrified of being drafted; drugs and free love went hand in hand. Also, hair; lots of hair and nakedness. It was the worst of times and the best of times, folks.
Despite of all that, I couldn’t rate the book any higher than the paltry two stars I gave it. I found the writing to be somewhat pedestrian. So much so that the characters sounded juvenile and lacking any personality whatsoever. Cora and Michael bored me; they were flat characters who had very little to offer as far as charisma and dimensions go. I don’t know, maybe because the story’s short that it didn’t really leave much room for character development? I felt like they could’ve been so much bigger, more in depth than how I perceived them. Ultimately, this single blight is what dragged the book down for me. Characterization is such an integral part of a great story. This book needed a lot of work in that department.
If there’s one thing that I can appreciate from this book is that how the author expertly transported me to Bethel, NY. How easily I could imagine being amongst the crush of bodies writhing in mud whilst in the haze of musical oblivion. It was so easy to picture how carefree and uninhibited the people were. Above all things, it’s a glimpse of shared sentiments and worry about the Vietnam war and their futures. While Michael didn’t know what the hell he wants to do with his life, Cora didn’t know how to make her dream a reality.
So far, this book has been getting quite a few favourable reviews on Goodreads. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but I really thought this book had so much unrealized potential.
It wasn’t only those music legends that whetted my appetite. The 60s is an interesting period of time for me. I’ve always been curious about the social and political climate of the times. In this book, the author glanced over the ideals that started Woodstock: camaraderie through music, brotherhood/sisterhood transcending races and blood. It was meant to be a peaceful protest against the war, which was on everybody’s minds. Kids were terrified of being drafted; drugs and free love went hand in hand. Also, hair; lots of hair and nakedness. It was the worst of times and the best of times, folks.
Despite of all that, I couldn’t rate the book any higher than the paltry two stars I gave it. I found the writing to be somewhat pedestrian. So much so that the characters sounded juvenile and lacking any personality whatsoever. Cora and Michael bored me; they were flat characters who had very little to offer as far as charisma and dimensions go. I don’t know, maybe because the story’s short that it didn’t really leave much room for character development? I felt like they could’ve been so much bigger, more in depth than how I perceived them. Ultimately, this single blight is what dragged the book down for me. Characterization is such an integral part of a great story. This book needed a lot of work in that department.
If there’s one thing that I can appreciate from this book is that how the author expertly transported me to Bethel, NY. How easily I could imagine being amongst the crush of bodies writhing in mud whilst in the haze of musical oblivion. It was so easy to picture how carefree and uninhibited the people were. Above all things, it’s a glimpse of shared sentiments and worry about the Vietnam war and their futures. While Michael didn’t know what the hell he wants to do with his life, Cora didn’t know how to make her dream a reality.
So far, this book has been getting quite a few favourable reviews on Goodreads. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but I really thought this book had so much unrealized potential.
May 22, 2015
Michael, the guy who has no idea what he wants to do with his life. Cora, the good girl who knows her future includes college and working in medicine. These very different teens are brought together by the epic music festival, Woodstock. Cora, who lives in the town hosting the festival, is a volunteer at the med. tent, while Michael, with his girlfriend (who he may or may not want to dump) and friends, is there to witness all the musical greats he loves. Thanks to some trippy brown acid, Cora and Michael’s lives and futures collide during three unforgettable days.
The wild 60’s + epic music + sweet romance = one super groovy reading experience. Sarvenaz Tash’s Three Day Summer is such a fun, feel-good YA book. Drugs, rock and roll, sex, music, peace, and love...this is what Woodstock is famous for and Tash brings it to life in all its psychedelic, tie-dye glory! From the physical layout of the festival and town to the awesome musical acts, memorable moments, the volatile atmosphere surrounding the war, clothing, and dialogue, Tash does such a great job of transporting readers to 1969 and capturing this complex, fascinating time in history. You can tell that the author clearly did her research and did everything possible to make this setting and time feel authentic and real.
While the festival itself is so fun to read about, it is Michael and Cora’s stories that take center stage. I really like these two, both as individuals and as a pair. They’re both witty, charming, and interesting in their own ways. And I thoroughly enjoyed watching their sweet, addicting love story unfold. This is a romance that readers will root and fall for.
my final thoughts: With its vivid setting, excellent world-building, likable characters, and fun romance, Three Day Summer easily charmed me. This is the perfect read for anyone crazy about Woodstock or simply in the mood for a light, entertaining read.
The wild 60’s + epic music + sweet romance = one super groovy reading experience. Sarvenaz Tash’s Three Day Summer is such a fun, feel-good YA book. Drugs, rock and roll, sex, music, peace, and love...this is what Woodstock is famous for and Tash brings it to life in all its psychedelic, tie-dye glory! From the physical layout of the festival and town to the awesome musical acts, memorable moments, the volatile atmosphere surrounding the war, clothing, and dialogue, Tash does such a great job of transporting readers to 1969 and capturing this complex, fascinating time in history. You can tell that the author clearly did her research and did everything possible to make this setting and time feel authentic and real.
While the festival itself is so fun to read about, it is Michael and Cora’s stories that take center stage. I really like these two, both as individuals and as a pair. They’re both witty, charming, and interesting in their own ways. And I thoroughly enjoyed watching their sweet, addicting love story unfold. This is a romance that readers will root and fall for.
my final thoughts: With its vivid setting, excellent world-building, likable characters, and fun romance, Three Day Summer easily charmed me. This is the perfect read for anyone crazy about Woodstock or simply in the mood for a light, entertaining read.
July 23, 2015
This review was originally posted on Andi's ABCs
When I first heard about Three Day Summer I won’t lie, the cover is what intrigued me. I mean would you look at that thing? It screams 60s with those colors. And then I did some investigation and saw it took place at Woodstock. I knew I needed to read it after that. I have always been fascinated by Woodstock and what it would have been like to be there. And the good news after all that…the book lived up to the cover and my expectations.
Three Day Summer is about Michael and Cora, two very different people that find themselves both at the historic Woodstock festival. Michael is there trying to figure out what he wants out of life while Cora is there to further what she wants out of life. When the two of them have a chance encounter their days at Woodstock bring them on an expected adventure and to something they both really can’t fight, romance.
Action:
Much like the movie Titanic Tash did something that is difficult to do with the story. She took a real life event and based a fictional love story around it. It was a risk working with such a well-known place but it worked. Michael and Cora's stories fit right in with the Woodstock vibe and with hippie culture in general. Was there a thing or two that may have been a little farfetched? Sure. But for the most part the plot moved as naturally as it could for something that happened over just three days.
Backdrop:
Three Day Summer has probably one of the most well-known settings (at least I hope it still is) in music history, Woodstock. The three days of Woodstock are memorable for so many reasons. Whether it was the music, the weather, the lack of food, or the sex and drugs, Woodstock tells a story. Tash incorporated her two main characters, Michael and Cora, into this setting flawlessly. Reading the pages I felt like I was in Woodstock. She nailed what I imagined it to be like from the sound of the music to the chill atmosphere to the party vibe. It was so vividly described I couldn't help but wish I was born when Woodstock happened and would have been cool enough to go.
Charcaters:
I really liked the difference in Michael and Cora's personalities. First you have Cora, headstrong female that doesn't dream about being a nurse or housewife. She wants to be a doctor and won't let stereotypes or her nasty father stop her. She has dreams and goal and want let sexism stand in her way. And then you have Michael, typical hippie. Drugs, apathy, laid back thoughts in life. War is in the forefront of his mind yet he doesn't know if he is made out for the service or for school. He has no idea who he wants to be so he stays stagnant with the wrong people. When Cora and Michael meet you know it is going to be epic and Tash does not disappoint.
Final Thoughts:
I loved this book. There was one tiny part that I found farfetched and why it isn't a perfect 5 rating wise, but everything else was so spot on. After reading it I immersed myself in 60s music and live recordings from Woodstock. I wanted to break out my wide leg jeans and pretend they were bell bottoms. I wanted to sit outside at a concert and get lost in music. Three Day Summer hit all the right notes for me and in the end I was just so happy to have found it. If you love romance and the history of Woodstock then you can't miss reading this fabulous book.
When I first heard about Three Day Summer I won’t lie, the cover is what intrigued me. I mean would you look at that thing? It screams 60s with those colors. And then I did some investigation and saw it took place at Woodstock. I knew I needed to read it after that. I have always been fascinated by Woodstock and what it would have been like to be there. And the good news after all that…the book lived up to the cover and my expectations.
Three Day Summer is about Michael and Cora, two very different people that find themselves both at the historic Woodstock festival. Michael is there trying to figure out what he wants out of life while Cora is there to further what she wants out of life. When the two of them have a chance encounter their days at Woodstock bring them on an expected adventure and to something they both really can’t fight, romance.
Action:
Much like the movie Titanic Tash did something that is difficult to do with the story. She took a real life event and based a fictional love story around it. It was a risk working with such a well-known place but it worked. Michael and Cora's stories fit right in with the Woodstock vibe and with hippie culture in general. Was there a thing or two that may have been a little farfetched? Sure. But for the most part the plot moved as naturally as it could for something that happened over just three days.
Backdrop:
Three Day Summer has probably one of the most well-known settings (at least I hope it still is) in music history, Woodstock. The three days of Woodstock are memorable for so many reasons. Whether it was the music, the weather, the lack of food, or the sex and drugs, Woodstock tells a story. Tash incorporated her two main characters, Michael and Cora, into this setting flawlessly. Reading the pages I felt like I was in Woodstock. She nailed what I imagined it to be like from the sound of the music to the chill atmosphere to the party vibe. It was so vividly described I couldn't help but wish I was born when Woodstock happened and would have been cool enough to go.
Charcaters:
I really liked the difference in Michael and Cora's personalities. First you have Cora, headstrong female that doesn't dream about being a nurse or housewife. She wants to be a doctor and won't let stereotypes or her nasty father stop her. She has dreams and goal and want let sexism stand in her way. And then you have Michael, typical hippie. Drugs, apathy, laid back thoughts in life. War is in the forefront of his mind yet he doesn't know if he is made out for the service or for school. He has no idea who he wants to be so he stays stagnant with the wrong people. When Cora and Michael meet you know it is going to be epic and Tash does not disappoint.
Final Thoughts:
I loved this book. There was one tiny part that I found farfetched and why it isn't a perfect 5 rating wise, but everything else was so spot on. After reading it I immersed myself in 60s music and live recordings from Woodstock. I wanted to break out my wide leg jeans and pretend they were bell bottoms. I wanted to sit outside at a concert and get lost in music. Three Day Summer hit all the right notes for me and in the end I was just so happy to have found it. If you love romance and the history of Woodstock then you can't miss reading this fabulous book.
Read
May 30, 2015This story’s mood perfectly matches its vibrant, feel-good cover. It’s hard to put into words what I love so much about this historical novel. It just made me all sorts of happy. Its setting is one of the greatest ever: Woodstock. Its pace is quick and engaging. It’s dual-POV main characters, Cora and Michael, are incredibly likable — even the one who cheats. Its voice is light and fresh, and not just when exploring bands and skinny-dipping and bad acid trips, but also when discussing the more serious issues of the time, like the draft and the conflict in Vietnam. And its romance, though quickly intense, is genuine and charming and really sexy. Three Day Summer made me sorely regret not being present (not to mention alive) for Woodstock, but the spirit of the festival is so perfectly captured in this story, I wonder if maybe I haven’t completely missed out after all.
July 24, 2015
This book is so. Much. Fun. It's entertaining, it's feel-good, it's a dual-POV in which both characters heads are fun places to be, it's full of passion for great music, has great shoutouts and cameos, it makes great use of time and place, and the chapters narrated completely on acid are some of the most naturally funny writing I've read in a while.
February 20, 2015
This book is a seriously fun read about love at Woodstock. All the music references make me want a companion CD. Readers of Emery Lord's Open Road Summer should love this one. Well-written and engaging.
April 3, 2015
A magical, romantic story about two teens whose paths cross at Woodstock. At a time when the whole world was changing, Cora and Michael follow their hearts and their dreams, Absolutely fantastic!
May 10, 2015
4.5 stars. I flew this one with a smile on my face -- I just loved it! The author nailed the Woodstock vibe and created a completely delightful reading experience.
June 8, 2015
I have to say right up front that this book was like my own personal time machine. As with Michael, the male protagonist, I had no clue what would happen when I heard about this awesome three day music festival in New York State. I was working on a highway crew, painting a draw bridge that spanned the Kennebec River when four of us bought tickets, cut work on a Thursday and headed for Woodstock.
Michael is piloting his mom's purple Chrysler, his bossy girlfriend Amanda and a couple friends with him. He's already ambivalent about his relationship, but hasn't had a chance to get it together and break things off. The closer they get to the festival, the more they begin realizing that this is way bigger than anyone ever imagined. The car overheats, so they abandon it in the middle of the road and hike the last five miles to Max Yazgur's farm.
Meanwhile Cora, who lives right near the festival site, entertains dreams of becoming a doctor. She's going to volunteer at the medical tent with a nurse she helps in her role as a candy striper. She's got a lot on her mind. Ned, the boy she gave her heart to, broke up with her a while ago, but works on her dad's farm, so he's never far from her thoughts. Wes, her younger brother is involved in the anti-war movement, while her older brother is in the military in Vietnam.
When Michael takes a hit of brown acid, he flips out and his friends bring him to the medical tent where Cora is assigned to monitor him while he comes down. Over the several hours it takes to get him close to clear-headed, something happens between them.
Cora is so busy she doesn't have time to ponder the effect Michael had on her at first. Michael, on the other hand, is feeling a surreal connection because of the way he saw her while tripping. Besides, he's lost his friends (as did I) and despite his best efforts, can't find them in the huge crowd. He returns to the medical tent at seven, the time Cora gets off duty and invites her to stay and listen to some of the music with him. She's about to say no when her ex-wanders up, asking if she's ready to head home.
Cora's no becomes a yes, becoming the beginning of behavior that's completely out of character for her, as well as a relationship with a guy who already has a girlfriend and lives a couple hundred miles away. Add in her father's going ballistic attitude toward the concertgoers, Michael's incredible knowledge of most of the bands playing, completely 'you are there' vignettes from the event and you have a super story about two likable teens at the biggest concert ever.
I loved this book, not only because of the chemistry between the two main characters, but because on almost every page, something happened that took me back to the moment it was capturing. I heartily agree with the reviewer who said that the author brought the festival to life. She absolutely nailed it as far as I'm concerned. I'd love to see this book in as many public and school libraries as possible because it brings to life an event that most teens know nothing about.
Michael is piloting his mom's purple Chrysler, his bossy girlfriend Amanda and a couple friends with him. He's already ambivalent about his relationship, but hasn't had a chance to get it together and break things off. The closer they get to the festival, the more they begin realizing that this is way bigger than anyone ever imagined. The car overheats, so they abandon it in the middle of the road and hike the last five miles to Max Yazgur's farm.
Meanwhile Cora, who lives right near the festival site, entertains dreams of becoming a doctor. She's going to volunteer at the medical tent with a nurse she helps in her role as a candy striper. She's got a lot on her mind. Ned, the boy she gave her heart to, broke up with her a while ago, but works on her dad's farm, so he's never far from her thoughts. Wes, her younger brother is involved in the anti-war movement, while her older brother is in the military in Vietnam.
When Michael takes a hit of brown acid, he flips out and his friends bring him to the medical tent where Cora is assigned to monitor him while he comes down. Over the several hours it takes to get him close to clear-headed, something happens between them.
Cora is so busy she doesn't have time to ponder the effect Michael had on her at first. Michael, on the other hand, is feeling a surreal connection because of the way he saw her while tripping. Besides, he's lost his friends (as did I) and despite his best efforts, can't find them in the huge crowd. He returns to the medical tent at seven, the time Cora gets off duty and invites her to stay and listen to some of the music with him. She's about to say no when her ex-wanders up, asking if she's ready to head home.
Cora's no becomes a yes, becoming the beginning of behavior that's completely out of character for her, as well as a relationship with a guy who already has a girlfriend and lives a couple hundred miles away. Add in her father's going ballistic attitude toward the concertgoers, Michael's incredible knowledge of most of the bands playing, completely 'you are there' vignettes from the event and you have a super story about two likable teens at the biggest concert ever.
I loved this book, not only because of the chemistry between the two main characters, but because on almost every page, something happened that took me back to the moment it was capturing. I heartily agree with the reviewer who said that the author brought the festival to life. She absolutely nailed it as far as I'm concerned. I'd love to see this book in as many public and school libraries as possible because it brings to life an event that most teens know nothing about.
May 16, 2015
This book is a lovely trip back to the '60s. It can't be easy to write a book in two different voices (chapters alternate between Cora's and Michael's points of view), but it works to great effect here as we get to live through the Woodstock festival through two perspectives: Cora is a local working as a candy-striper in the festival's medical tent; Michael road-tripped with friends to see Jimi Hendrix and the rest of his musical heroes. Somehow I've never watched the Woodstock concert film (though it's in my Netflix queue now), but reading this book felt just like being there -- from the traffic jam to the drug freak-outs to the mudslides and beyond. I loved the author's approach of taking us inside such a famous event through these characters' intimately personal story -- I feel like their story would have been great even without having Woodstock as a backdrop, just like this trip to Woodstock would have been fun without meeting these characters, but combining the two heightens them both immensely. You can tell that Tash did her research to make the festival feel real and accurate, but she added just enough of the incredible to make for an exciting and satisfying story. Just like Michael and Cora felt about their weekend at Woodstock, my only sadness is that reading this book flew by so fast. Luckily, you can re-live a book as often as you want!
(PS: The author put together a great soundtrack of festival classics for the book on Spotify,and I copied it over to my streaming service of choice, Rdio)
(PS: The author put together a great soundtrack of festival classics for the book on Spotify,and I copied it over to my streaming service of choice, Rdio)
April 24, 2017
I have always been fascinated by the 60s and Woodstock so I loved the time and setting of this book. Honestly, I loved everything about this book! The cover, Cora and Michael and their alternating point of views, the love for the color orange, the music festival culture and fashion, and of course the music. Reading this book felt like a journey in a time machine and I didn't want it to end. The perfect summer read and definitely a new favorite of mine!
July 3, 2015
This book completely transported me. I literally felt like I was there. Even when I wasn't reading, I was thinking of the characters and how the story would play out. Tash does an amazing job of taking an important time in history and making you feel as though you are living it. RIGHT NOW. When I finished the book I wanted to go find some footage of the concert just to see if I could see Cora and Michael in the audience. They were that real to me. Loved it.
January 27, 2015
Reading this made me feel like I was at Woodstock!
July 12, 2018
So. This book was definitely not what I thought or wanted it to be. It contains a fast love story that was very hard to believe. Also cheating (which the two main characters were totally okay with), which I think was one of the reasons the book was ruined for me.
Since it took place at the festival of Woodstock, there was also talk of drugs, which personally I don’t like in a book. Another thing that annoyed me was how short each chapter was and how much space was wasted since the chapter would being halfway down the page and stop two pages later at the top.
Lesson- don’t judge a book by its incredibly cute cover
Since it took place at the festival of Woodstock, there was also talk of drugs, which personally I don’t like in a book. Another thing that annoyed me was how short each chapter was and how much space was wasted since the chapter would being halfway down the page and stop two pages later at the top.
Lesson- don’t judge a book by its incredibly cute cover
June 16, 2017
A super quick, super fun read set against the backdrop of legendary music festival Woodstock. There, opposites Cora and Michael meet, and spend a three day weekend together that will change their lives for the better. The story is well paced and full of heart. The music references are fun, and though Woodstock happened before I was born, I could picture it clearly with the author's words and imagery.
October 31, 2021
Three days can change your life. Music can change your life. Reading a book can change your life. Reading this book has changed my life. I love it so much.
July 22, 2015
Still on my quest to find an adequately hippie-dippy historical-fiction 60s/70s YA book. This one features Woodstock, suggesting that I might be heading in the general right direction.
Three Day Summer is told in alternating voices: We have Michael, who has driven to Bethel from Boston for Woodstock—he's a music-lover, unenthusiastic about college (but even more unenthusiastic about the possibility of being drafted), interested in hippie culture but (when push comes to shove) more or less on the outskirts of it. And then we have Cora, who lives in Bethel but has only a secondary interest in Woodstock; her real interest lies in medicine, and consequently in volunteering in the medical tent.
They meet, and because it's YA fiction, sparks fly. There's an impediment, of course; in this case, it's the fact that Michael has a girlfriend...who happens to be at Woodstock with him. I was not too thrilled with this part of the book. Not the fact that there's ultimately cheating involved—I actually found it more realistic that Michael didn't break up with Amanda right away, and that Cora was aware that he was attached and got to make her decisions more or less fully informed. But Amanda's a pretty boring character; she's written to be unsympathetic (to make it easier to root for Cora + Michael, I suppose) but ends up being quite flat. Her only redeeming qualities seem to be that she's pretty and knows her music. Would definitely have liked to see more complexity there.
Would also have liked some more complexity to Michael. Cora has more of a character-development arc than he does, I think—she's trying to figure out who she is and what she really wants, a task made more difficult by the fact that she's pretty sure she wants things that are outside the norm for both her town and the era (read: farm girl in the late 60s wants to be a doctor). Michael is also uncertain about his future, but he has, well, teenage-boy confidence that things will work out.
Vietnam is present in the book, but since the plot really only does cover three days, there's a limit to how much influence it can have on the plot or characters here, which seems about right. Seems like there could be more to be said about Cora's older brother, though.
So...enjoyable, and with a nice sense of Woodstock (brown tabs and all). Not the book to satisfy my hippie-dippy book leanings, but..something to tide me over until then?
Three Day Summer is told in alternating voices: We have Michael, who has driven to Bethel from Boston for Woodstock—he's a music-lover, unenthusiastic about college (but even more unenthusiastic about the possibility of being drafted), interested in hippie culture but (when push comes to shove) more or less on the outskirts of it. And then we have Cora, who lives in Bethel but has only a secondary interest in Woodstock; her real interest lies in medicine, and consequently in volunteering in the medical tent.
They meet, and because it's YA fiction, sparks fly. There's an impediment, of course; in this case, it's the fact that Michael has a girlfriend...who happens to be at Woodstock with him. I was not too thrilled with this part of the book. Not the fact that there's ultimately cheating involved—I actually found it more realistic that Michael didn't break up with Amanda right away, and that Cora was aware that he was attached and got to make her decisions more or less fully informed. But Amanda's a pretty boring character; she's written to be unsympathetic (to make it easier to root for Cora + Michael, I suppose) but ends up being quite flat. Her only redeeming qualities seem to be that she's pretty and knows her music. Would definitely have liked to see more complexity there.
Would also have liked some more complexity to Michael. Cora has more of a character-development arc than he does, I think—she's trying to figure out who she is and what she really wants, a task made more difficult by the fact that she's pretty sure she wants things that are outside the norm for both her town and the era (read: farm girl in the late 60s wants to be a doctor). Michael is also uncertain about his future, but he has, well, teenage-boy confidence that things will work out.
Vietnam is present in the book, but since the plot really only does cover three days, there's a limit to how much influence it can have on the plot or characters here, which seems about right. Seems like there could be more to be said about Cora's older brother, though.
So...enjoyable, and with a nice sense of Woodstock (brown tabs and all). Not the book to satisfy my hippie-dippy book leanings, but..something to tide me over until then?
May 7, 2015
Being in love with anything relating to the counter-culture, mind-bending music, and overall turmoil during the 1960s, this book couldn't have been more perfect. Tash sets the stage for her love story brilliantly, as I felt like I was right there with Cora and Michael, experiencing everything with them. I also really got to know and fall in love with both characters, as the author gave a great sense as to where each was coming from (both mentally and spiritually) and what they thought about the ever-changing landscape of the world around them. In other words, they just seemed REAL. Since I had always wished that I was born in an earlier era and attended this legendary music festival, Three Day Summer was the perfect vehicle for me to feel like I was actually there.
October 18, 2015
3.5 stars. This was A LOT OF FUN. Loved the 60s vibe, the love of music, and reading about two people who are on the verge of making some big life decisions. Cora and Michael had some great chemistry (the whole meeting a handsome stranger who you might never see again was great). So many parallels with the discussions in this book including job equality for women and also protesting about war. Extremely fast, enjoyable read.
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