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The Summer After You and Me
Sunbathing, surfing, eating funnel cake on the boardwalk—Lucy loves living on the Jersey Shore. For her, it's not just the perfect summer escape, it is home. And as a local girl, she knows not to get attached to the tourists. They breeze in over Memorial Day weekend, crowding the shore and stealing moonlit kisses, only to pack up their beach umbrellas and empty promises on Labor Day. Lucy wants more from love than a fleeting romance, even if that means keeping her distance from her summertime neighbor and crush, Connor.
Then Superstorm Sandy tears apart her barrier island, briefly bringing together a local girl like herself and a vacationer like Connor. Except nothing is the same in the wake of the storm. And day after day, week after week, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and broken home. Now with Memorial Day approaching and Connor returning, will it be a summer of fresh starts or second chances?
Then Superstorm Sandy tears apart her barrier island, briefly bringing together a local girl like herself and a vacationer like Connor. Except nothing is the same in the wake of the storm. And day after day, week after week, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and broken home. Now with Memorial Day approaching and Connor returning, will it be a summer of fresh starts or second chances?
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2013
153 people are currently reading
11250 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
9 books389 followersJennifer Salvato Doktorski received a 2024 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. She is the author of five YA novels, HOW MY SUMMER WENT UP IN FLAMES, FAMOUS LAST WORDS, a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year, THE SUMMER AFTER YOU & ME, a YALSA Teens' Top 10, AUGUST & EVERYTHING AFTER and the forthcoming FINDING NORMAL 2025.
Her first paid gig was writing obituaries for the North Jersey Herald & News, where she developed a life-long taste for coffee, news, biting sarcasm, and irreverent humor. She also worked as a speech writer, bank teller, ghostwriter, bookkeeper in a lampshade factory, pet shop clerk, and music zine editor.
She lives with her family in New Jersey and spends her summers “down the shore,” where everything's always all right.
Her first paid gig was writing obituaries for the North Jersey Herald & News, where she developed a life-long taste for coffee, news, biting sarcasm, and irreverent humor. She also worked as a speech writer, bank teller, ghostwriter, bookkeeper in a lampshade factory, pet shop clerk, and music zine editor.
She lives with her family in New Jersey and spends her summers “down the shore,” where everything's always all right.
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May 3, 2015
More reviews and bookish fun over at Deadly Darlings!
*Please note that everything in this review is from me. This is what I think would go down if Lucy was real and I got the chance to talk to her.
Ladies and gentlemen, today I'm here to interview the main character of The Summer After You And Me, Lucy! *insert applause and possibly some groaning here*
Me: How was your experience with Superstorm Sandy? I expect that you were devastated when you heard about it, and that you probably panicked like crazy, correct? I want me some good 'ole destruction.
Lucy: Pshaw. The storm was nothing. Sort of just like a breeze that passed by.
Me: *scratches head* Honestly, since it was a big part of your synopsis I wanted it to play a bigger role in your story. But hey, you're the protagonist. Okay then... Let's talk about something else. Tell me more about Connor. I hear he has a lot of "conquests." How do you feel about that?
Lucy: Connor is, like, so hot and attractive. Sure, I'm totes jealous of all the girls he's been with, but he always tells me that I'm the one for him. And I believe him! Duh.
Me: *whispers to the audience* This girl is a nut job. Someone get me out of here! *coughs and turns back to Lucy* Don't you think you're thinking about him a little too much? What about your boyfriend (who's an absolute sweetheart)? If you don't want him, I'll take him from you.
Lucy: I love my boyfriend! I won't cheat on him ever... but I can't stop thinking about Connor! What should I do?
Me: For the love of God, woman! Get a grip on yourself. Why not try to fix your family issues with your brother before thinking about getting it on with him, eh?
Lucy: Family?! But my brother Liam's always such a jackass to me. He never supports me and he always ignores me. He's such a shit.
Me:
Me: By the way, I totally agree that your brother's a shit. But the last 10% of your book was good. If only the entire book was that way. THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT.
The gist of it is that this book had your typical girl-with-a-boyfriend-can't-get-over-her-sexy-crush storyline. Apparently, for Lucy, guy issues trump all family members and/or a storm that could potentially destroy her house. And this book gave me a migraine.
*Please note that everything in this review is from me. This is what I think would go down if Lucy was real and I got the chance to talk to her.
Ladies and gentlemen, today I'm here to interview the main character of The Summer After You And Me, Lucy! *insert applause and possibly some groaning here*
Me: How was your experience with Superstorm Sandy? I expect that you were devastated when you heard about it, and that you probably panicked like crazy, correct? I want me some good 'ole destruction.
Lucy: Pshaw. The storm was nothing. Sort of just like a breeze that passed by.
Me: *scratches head* Honestly, since it was a big part of your synopsis I wanted it to play a bigger role in your story. But hey, you're the protagonist. Okay then... Let's talk about something else. Tell me more about Connor. I hear he has a lot of "conquests." How do you feel about that?
Lucy: Connor is, like, so hot and attractive. Sure, I'm totes jealous of all the girls he's been with, but he always tells me that I'm the one for him. And I believe him! Duh.
Me: *whispers to the audience* This girl is a nut job. Someone get me out of here! *coughs and turns back to Lucy* Don't you think you're thinking about him a little too much? What about your boyfriend (who's an absolute sweetheart)? If you don't want him, I'll take him from you.
Lucy: I love my boyfriend! I won't cheat on him ever... but I can't stop thinking about Connor! What should I do?
Me: For the love of God, woman! Get a grip on yourself. Why not try to fix your family issues with your brother before thinking about getting it on with him, eh?
Lucy: Family?! But my brother Liam's always such a jackass to me. He never supports me and he always ignores me. He's such a shit.
Me:
Me: By the way, I totally agree that your brother's a shit. But the last 10% of your book was good. If only the entire book was that way. THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT.
The gist of it is that this book had your typical girl-with-a-boyfriend-can't-get-over-her-sexy-crush storyline. Apparently, for Lucy, guy issues trump all family members and/or a storm that could potentially destroy her house. And this book gave me a migraine.
March 22, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley.)
“Connor Malloy was kissing me. I was kissing Connor Malloy. That’s all that mattered.”
This was a YA contemporary romance, about love in the aftermath of a failed relationship.
I felt quite sorry for Lucy in this story, not only had she lost the boy she loved for reasons she didn’t know, but her twin brother behaved horribly towards her! Why he was so nasty, and basically tried to ruin her life for her I don’t know, but his behaviour was pretty bad.
“You’re amazing, Luce. You know that? You knew I needed that car for work, and now all of a sudden you’re interested in driving sixty miles for an unpaid internship.”
The storyline in this was quite slow, and it did drag in places. I did wonder where the story was going at points, but thankfully there were a couple of twists to make things a bit more interesting.
There was romance in this story, and it was pretty sweet, I couldn’t believe the way that Liam had tried to ruin Lucy and Connor’s relationship though!
“I figured you got the message and didn’t want to see me because you regretted what happened between us.”
The ending to this was hopeful, and I really hope that this pair will have a happy ending.
7 out of 10
“Connor Malloy was kissing me. I was kissing Connor Malloy. That’s all that mattered.”
This was a YA contemporary romance, about love in the aftermath of a failed relationship.
I felt quite sorry for Lucy in this story, not only had she lost the boy she loved for reasons she didn’t know, but her twin brother behaved horribly towards her! Why he was so nasty, and basically tried to ruin her life for her I don’t know, but his behaviour was pretty bad.
“You’re amazing, Luce. You know that? You knew I needed that car for work, and now all of a sudden you’re interested in driving sixty miles for an unpaid internship.”
The storyline in this was quite slow, and it did drag in places. I did wonder where the story was going at points, but thankfully there were a couple of twists to make things a bit more interesting.
There was romance in this story, and it was pretty sweet, I couldn’t believe the way that Liam had tried to ruin Lucy and Connor’s relationship though!
“I figured you got the message and didn’t want to see me because you regretted what happened between us.”
The ending to this was hopeful, and I really hope that this pair will have a happy ending.
7 out of 10
March 31, 2016
An Advanced Reader Copy was provided by the publisher for review.
Ummmm.... You know Murphy's Law: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong."?? That pretty much sums up this book. The reader is in the dark for the first half of what happened last summer, but it's not too hard to guess what happened because our main character Lucy pretty much avoids Conner. But alas she can't because she's just attracted to him and his rock hard abs.
I liked the bits about Superstorm Sandy because that to me was real and something people actually lived through, but what would have made this book better was having it all happen in the past and then at the end go back to the present. Flipping back and forth was confusing and it wasn't done well because so many times I was just like what is going on? Am I in the past or the present? And the running story-line here was there is no story. I wanted to DNF this, but I was so close to finishing it, I decided not to.
As for the characters? Oh boy it was hard to like them because let's face it Lucy drools over Conner like a slab of meat and I don't understand what made him so special. If he had so much personality then why didn't he do romantic sweet gestures? I was looking for that! It was really hard to like Lucy when she ends up having a boyfriend, yet she's basically in love with someone else. Every time she would make a decision, it was like she knew what the consequences would be, but she didn't care and went and did it anyway. Things would have been so much better if she just accepted people's help and apologies, she's mad at everyone for most of the book. I disliked pretty much all the characters except maybe for Meaghan and Matteo.. The rest were just... !!!! Super frustrating. Especially her brother. Oh god.
Sadly, I didn't like this one or the characters in it, so I'm suggesting to keep an open mind when you pick this one up.
RATING 1/5
QUOTES
"Why do humans place so much importance on finding their one true partner?" (47)
"Screwing up is normal. It's human. It's what we do after, to make things right, that matters." (270)
Ummmm.... You know Murphy's Law: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong."?? That pretty much sums up this book. The reader is in the dark for the first half of what happened last summer, but it's not too hard to guess what happened because our main character Lucy pretty much avoids Conner. But alas she can't because she's just attracted to him and his rock hard abs.
I liked the bits about Superstorm Sandy because that to me was real and something people actually lived through, but what would have made this book better was having it all happen in the past and then at the end go back to the present. Flipping back and forth was confusing and it wasn't done well because so many times I was just like what is going on? Am I in the past or the present? And the running story-line here was there is no story. I wanted to DNF this, but I was so close to finishing it, I decided not to.
As for the characters? Oh boy it was hard to like them because let's face it Lucy drools over Conner like a slab of meat and I don't understand what made him so special. If he had so much personality then why didn't he do romantic sweet gestures? I was looking for that! It was really hard to like Lucy when she ends up having a boyfriend, yet she's basically in love with someone else. Every time she would make a decision, it was like she knew what the consequences would be, but she didn't care and went and did it anyway. Things would have been so much better if she just accepted people's help and apologies, she's mad at everyone for most of the book. I disliked pretty much all the characters except maybe for Meaghan and Matteo.. The rest were just... !!!! Super frustrating. Especially her brother. Oh god.
Sadly, I didn't like this one or the characters in it, so I'm suggesting to keep an open mind when you pick this one up.
RATING 1/5
QUOTES
"Why do humans place so much importance on finding their one true partner?" (47)
"Screwing up is normal. It's human. It's what we do after, to make things right, that matters." (270)
Want to read
March 20, 2015Kind of nervous since my co-blogger didn't like this one that much. We'll see...
May 31, 2022
DNFed at 57%
Awful. Terrible. Flop. Fail.
These and many more are what I would use to describe this book. I honestly can say that this book stinks. I have so many issues with it, and I just cannot tell you how much I HATED this book.
So much went wrong with this book. I can kinda see where the author was trying to go with it, but didn't get there. Small, beach town girl falls in love with a yearly tourist (whom she's know since they were kids. And as a teenager is a player and ladies man.) even though it's against the rules-because tourists never stay. It's a good idea! But with this book, it fail.
Reasons why it fail-
1) The chapters all started with a paragraph about the mating rituals of sea life off the East Coast
Yes, you read that right. Are you confused? As am I. Lucy was writing a thesis called “What’s Love Got to Do with It? The Dating and Mating habits of North American Sea Life” (Don't ask me why she was writing her thesis on that. But, somehow, she managed to make it 30 pages long. She got a B- on it though.)
Each chapter began with a paragraph about the mating rituals about animals. These headers are supposed to foreshadow the things that happen in that chapter, but I can confidently say that they didn't do that. (Except for the one about siblings fighting and going off to mate with someone. Actually, scratch the mating part of that off. Lucy ran off and cried.) But they were just weird and unneeded. It was actually one of the things that turned me off.
2) The "Super Storm Sandy"
I'm not denying that a storm blew through their town and destroyed people's livelihood, because it did. But every. singe. page. mentioned the storm. I'm not kidding, every page says "because of sandy" or "sandy caused" or something about sandy. Sometimes (If you're so lucky!🙄) it's mentioned 2-3 times. 😮💨
Everything in the book is "Because of Sandy".
"Because of Sandy, Connor and I broke up."
"Because of Sandy, my brother turned into a jerk. I can't stand him because of Sandy!"
"If it wasn't for Sandy...."
"Now it smelled like paint and new wood. Sandy did that. It took away the beach smell."
"Because of Sandy we might have to sell our house."
"Since Sandy..."
"sandy"
"Sandy"
"SANDY!"
By the end of chapter one I got the point! But through the WHOLE BOOK she keeps complaining about it. She blames her whole life on Sandy. (Not gonna lie, I wish Sandy had taken out her, her brother, or Connor. Then we wouldn't be dealing with this.😅🥸) But my beef with that is the fact that it's not Sandy's fault that she and Connor failed, it was her brother, Liams'.
The other thing! She complains about Sandy all the time, but when she describes it, it's like a breeze swept through. EXPLAIN IT TO ME! (I think I say that in every review)
3) Her and Connor
The first 2 pages are her telling us how much she hates Connor and her interacting with him and having to act like she's not attracted to him and thinking about how he broke her heart..... blah, blah, blah. Then she trashes him for the next couple of chapters and then by pages 40-50, he's confessing his unwavering love for her and how he wants to kiss her, even though he has a girlfriend. 👀🤔 Hmm.
Through the book, it is repeatedly said that Connor is a player-that he's been with quite a few of the girls in town, and brings girls with him if he comes to the beach. But Lucy looks past that and gets with him anyway. 🤔 Even when he's with another girl.....😶😐🤔
And my final issue.....
4) LUCY!
I had so many issues with her. She's so obnoxious and self centered. I hated being in her head with a passion. (I hate it more than I hated being in Juliette's head. See that book and that review here)
I could've gotten past those things, but she just got worse. She was more pushy and awful as it went on and I finally could take no more.
No, there will not be a spotify playlist for this, DNFed books don't get any, they aren't worthy.
Awful. Terrible. Flop. Fail.
These and many more are what I would use to describe this book. I honestly can say that this book stinks. I have so many issues with it, and I just cannot tell you how much I HATED this book.
So much went wrong with this book. I can kinda see where the author was trying to go with it, but didn't get there. Small, beach town girl falls in love with a yearly tourist (whom she's know since they were kids. And as a teenager is a player and ladies man.) even though it's against the rules-because tourists never stay. It's a good idea! But with this book, it fail.
Reasons why it fail-
1) The chapters all started with a paragraph about the mating rituals of sea life off the East Coast
Yes, you read that right. Are you confused? As am I. Lucy was writing a thesis called “What’s Love Got to Do with It? The Dating and Mating habits of North American Sea Life” (Don't ask me why she was writing her thesis on that. But, somehow, she managed to make it 30 pages long. She got a B- on it though.)
Each chapter began with a paragraph about the mating rituals about animals. These headers are supposed to foreshadow the things that happen in that chapter, but I can confidently say that they didn't do that. (Except for the one about siblings fighting and going off to mate with someone. Actually, scratch the mating part of that off. Lucy ran off and cried.) But they were just weird and unneeded. It was actually one of the things that turned me off.
2) The "Super Storm Sandy"
I'm not denying that a storm blew through their town and destroyed people's livelihood, because it did. But every. singe. page. mentioned the storm. I'm not kidding, every page says "because of sandy" or "sandy caused" or something about sandy. Sometimes (If you're so lucky!🙄) it's mentioned 2-3 times. 😮💨
Everything in the book is "Because of Sandy".
"Because of Sandy, Connor and I broke up."
"Because of Sandy, my brother turned into a jerk. I can't stand him because of Sandy!"
"If it wasn't for Sandy...."
"Now it smelled like paint and new wood. Sandy did that. It took away the beach smell."
"Because of Sandy we might have to sell our house."
"Since Sandy..."
"sandy"
"Sandy"
"SANDY!"
By the end of chapter one I got the point! But through the WHOLE BOOK she keeps complaining about it. She blames her whole life on Sandy. (Not gonna lie, I wish Sandy had taken out her, her brother, or Connor. Then we wouldn't be dealing with this.😅🥸) But my beef with that is the fact that it's not Sandy's fault that she and Connor failed, it was her brother, Liams'.
The other thing! She complains about Sandy all the time, but when she describes it, it's like a breeze swept through. EXPLAIN IT TO ME! (I think I say that in every review)
3) Her and Connor
The first 2 pages are her telling us how much she hates Connor and her interacting with him and having to act like she's not attracted to him and thinking about how he broke her heart..... blah, blah, blah. Then she trashes him for the next couple of chapters and then by pages 40-50, he's confessing his unwavering love for her and how he wants to kiss her, even though he has a girlfriend. 👀🤔 Hmm.
Through the book, it is repeatedly said that Connor is a player-that he's been with quite a few of the girls in town, and brings girls with him if he comes to the beach. But Lucy looks past that and gets with him anyway. 🤔 Even when he's with another girl.....😶😐🤔
And my final issue.....
4) LUCY!
I had so many issues with her. She's so obnoxious and self centered. I hated being in her head with a passion. (I hate it more than I hated being in Juliette's head. See that book and that review here)
I could've gotten past those things, but she just got worse. She was more pushy and awful as it went on and I finally could take no more.
No, there will not be a spotify playlist for this, DNFed books don't get any, they aren't worthy.
May 2, 2015
I felt compelled to read this book not only because it was set in a coastal town but also because it explores the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Bonus, it also had a sweet sounding romance, so I was all in. While the aftermath of the storm didn't play as big of a role as I expected, I still wound up really enjoying The Summer After You and Me.
The strength of The Summer After You and Me stems from the strong characterization. The author was able to capture their voices so authentically. Lucy was a character I almost immediately bonded with. She was a normal girl and I think that made her easy to connect with. Friendship, crushes and minor family problems were all part of her life and that made her seem so real to me. I also thought she was a complete sweetheart and was pretty brave with the way she faced all of her issues with her head held high. One of my favorite things about Lucy was her absolute passion for marine wildlife. In her spare time, she volunteered in helping restore oysters and she also wrote a thesis about the mating habits of marine animals and I just loved that she was this girl with interests other than boys. I also loved how devoted she was to her coastal town and you could tell just how much love she had for her hometown. It can get a little tiring with female heroines who hate where they live, so it was refreshing to have Lucy care so much about her town. Connor, Lucy's love interest, was a little hard to gauge at first. I was a bit wary because we're told that he is a manwhore and I'm honestly not a fan of those kinds of book boyfriends, but he surprised both Lucy and me throughout the book when he started to open up. By the end of the book, I was pretty much in love with him and his swoony kisses.
The Summer After You and Me is a book that's quite heavy on the relationship dynamics and if you guys know me at all, you know I love that in my YA books. The author explored the complexities of many different relationships, from family to friendship to love. Lucy's relationship with her twin brother was one that had me frustrated because I was annoyed by the way he treated her. He does eventually grow up, but it hurt to see Lucy trying her hardest to try to rekindle their sibling relationship and him just pushing her away. Lucy also didn't have the most supportive friends, but they too underwent some changes throughout the book. My favorite part of this book was definitely the romance though. I was unaware that Lucy already had a boyfriend in the book before I started reading it, but I wasn't too put off by it. It was exactly a love triangle because I knew exactly who she had feelings for and who she cared for like a brother. She and Connor had a sweet relationship and I loved those tender moments between them. They also had some pretty swoony scenes that had the romantic in me flailing. Of course, like every other teenage couple they were faced with some obstacles, but thankfully, the book never got too dramatic. If I had one complaint about The Summer After You and Me, that would be that I actually would have liked to see more of the emotional and physical damages that Hurricane Sandy had inflicted on Lucy's town, but I was still very entertained by the book.
The Summer After You and Me was a heartfelt summer romance with the gorgeous coastal setting and some lovely characters. Fans of YA contemporary will want to check this book out.
September 11, 2024
A quick YA read which for some reason sucked me in unexpectedly. Perhaps I could relate to some level to some of the events and conflicting feelings from way back when I was that age and all was quite nostalgic for me.
Lucy and her twin brother Liam live in a 'summer' island off New Jersey. In the aftermath of the biggest storm in a hundred years storm Sandy which washed out a lot of the area. The town is recovering and so is Lucy after an encounter with long time summer crush Connor on the morning of the storm.
Now almost a year later all their lives have moved on or so it seems on the surface. Lucy and Connor struggle to come to terms with their true feelings despite now having other partners.
Super quick and light read for YA readers.
Thanks to Sourcebooks who provided a copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Lucy and her twin brother Liam live in a 'summer' island off New Jersey. In the aftermath of the biggest storm in a hundred years storm Sandy which washed out a lot of the area. The town is recovering and so is Lucy after an encounter with long time summer crush Connor on the morning of the storm.
Now almost a year later all their lives have moved on or so it seems on the surface. Lucy and Connor struggle to come to terms with their true feelings despite now having other partners.
Super quick and light read for YA readers.
Thanks to Sourcebooks who provided a copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
April 29, 2015
Find the original review here at This is the Story of My(Reading) Life
Talk a about a good book. This is a fantastic summer read. No way was I putting it down once I'd started. I really really needed to make sure that everything would work out for Lucy. The Summer After You + Me does an excellent job showcasing the ups and downs of life. Especially a teenage life. Lucy has a lot going on this summer, her part time job, her internship, her friends, her family and her love life. As this is a contemporary it is of course a romance(my fave), but I actually wasn't reading to get to the part when the couple comes together. This time around I was reading to make sure Lucy found her place. First lets talk about the atmosphere and setting of this book. Lucy lives on "the shore". Which we all know gets kind of a bad rapt because of a certain TV show. But it also went through a lot of destruction a few years ago when hurricane Sandy tore through there. We're shown a seaside town that months after the disaster is still trying to build itself up. The residents lost their livelihood but not their spirit. Lucy's family is not different. It cost money to rebuild. Something a lot of people are struggling with. Lucy is also going through a rocky bit in her relationship with her twin brother. Liam is being a pretty shifty brother. Some of the crap he does or says, I'd give a good punch for. But in the end, even though I don't condone his attitude towards Lucy, I can see where miscommunication played a big part. Which is actually a common theme in Lucy's relationships. Normal teenage not talking.
Let's get to the romance aspect. We have Connor who has a summer house beside Lucy's. Lucy has had a crush on him for years. Than something finally happens between them before the storm hits. But than she doesn't hear from Connor. Talk about heart break. In the meantime Lucy and her best friend Andrew get together. Of course Connor comes back for the summer and things get messy. Here's the thing, I wasn't the biggest fan of Connor. He's a guy that has a long list of conquests and I really don't get Lucy's infatuation with him. He was a nice guy, but I actually would have preferred nothing to happen between them. On the other hand there was Andrew. In writing they're perfect for each other but there's obviously no spark there. When the eventual fallout comes I totally was feeling for Lucy. She probably just lost her best friend. I really resonated with Lucy. She's a smart, nerdy, super sweet girl. Obsessed with marine life. I totally got her. She's trying to figure out how you go from best friend to a couple back to best friends. Her feelings for Connor are causing a riff with her girlfriends and brother. She's feeling left out and alone. I definitely remember those times. I like how Lucy dealt with a lot of the situations. I felt they were real conversations and outcomes. Nothing was perfect. Things were left unsaid.
Great book for a summer night. It is not overly angsty or dramatized. Lucy brings you into her life and you just want to see her succeed. I am definitely adding The Summer After You + Me to my reread shelf.
Talk a about a good book. This is a fantastic summer read. No way was I putting it down once I'd started. I really really needed to make sure that everything would work out for Lucy. The Summer After You + Me does an excellent job showcasing the ups and downs of life. Especially a teenage life. Lucy has a lot going on this summer, her part time job, her internship, her friends, her family and her love life. As this is a contemporary it is of course a romance(my fave), but I actually wasn't reading to get to the part when the couple comes together. This time around I was reading to make sure Lucy found her place. First lets talk about the atmosphere and setting of this book. Lucy lives on "the shore". Which we all know gets kind of a bad rapt because of a certain TV show. But it also went through a lot of destruction a few years ago when hurricane Sandy tore through there. We're shown a seaside town that months after the disaster is still trying to build itself up. The residents lost their livelihood but not their spirit. Lucy's family is not different. It cost money to rebuild. Something a lot of people are struggling with. Lucy is also going through a rocky bit in her relationship with her twin brother. Liam is being a pretty shifty brother. Some of the crap he does or says, I'd give a good punch for. But in the end, even though I don't condone his attitude towards Lucy, I can see where miscommunication played a big part. Which is actually a common theme in Lucy's relationships. Normal teenage not talking.
Let's get to the romance aspect. We have Connor who has a summer house beside Lucy's. Lucy has had a crush on him for years. Than something finally happens between them before the storm hits. But than she doesn't hear from Connor. Talk about heart break. In the meantime Lucy and her best friend Andrew get together. Of course Connor comes back for the summer and things get messy. Here's the thing, I wasn't the biggest fan of Connor. He's a guy that has a long list of conquests and I really don't get Lucy's infatuation with him. He was a nice guy, but I actually would have preferred nothing to happen between them. On the other hand there was Andrew. In writing they're perfect for each other but there's obviously no spark there. When the eventual fallout comes I totally was feeling for Lucy. She probably just lost her best friend. I really resonated with Lucy. She's a smart, nerdy, super sweet girl. Obsessed with marine life. I totally got her. She's trying to figure out how you go from best friend to a couple back to best friends. Her feelings for Connor are causing a riff with her girlfriends and brother. She's feeling left out and alone. I definitely remember those times. I like how Lucy dealt with a lot of the situations. I felt they were real conversations and outcomes. Nothing was perfect. Things were left unsaid.
Great book for a summer night. It is not overly angsty or dramatized. Lucy brings you into her life and you just want to see her succeed. I am definitely adding The Summer After You + Me to my reread shelf.
March 4, 2021
Full Review on The Candid Cover
This book is the perfect summer read! Reading The Summer After You and Me will leave readers dreaming of sandy beach towns. In this book by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, Lucy, the main character, is swept into the eye of an actual storm while dealing with love and the search for independence.
The Summer After You and Me is set in the horrific time of Hurricane Sandy, which make this book feel quite realistic. After Superstorm Sandy hits Lucy's hometown, her family is struggling financially. Usually, beachy reads are pretty laid-back and simple. This time period of devastation for so many adds a special flavour to this book that turns it into a relatable and fascinating story.
As expected in a book set in a beach town, there is a romantic plot line. In The Summer After You and Me, Lucy has a twin brother, Liam. Lucy's brother and boyfriend hate each other. Lucy is caught in the middle of the two people she loves. This rift between the two siblings creates tension and drama that will satisfy those who enjoy a good romance novel.
The main character, Lucy, is a very determined and self-reliant. Throughout the novel, Lucy is pursuing her dream of becoming a marine mammalogist. She knows how to go for what she wants by volunteering in a similar field and talking to a friend who knows all about marine biology. It is refreshing to read a book that encourages young women to be independent and attain their goals.
Fans of Sarah Dessen will definitely enjoy The Summer After You and Me. It is a fast-paced story that has the right mix of drama, love and determination.
This book is the perfect summer read! Reading The Summer After You and Me will leave readers dreaming of sandy beach towns. In this book by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, Lucy, the main character, is swept into the eye of an actual storm while dealing with love and the search for independence.
The Summer After You and Me is set in the horrific time of Hurricane Sandy, which make this book feel quite realistic. After Superstorm Sandy hits Lucy's hometown, her family is struggling financially. Usually, beachy reads are pretty laid-back and simple. This time period of devastation for so many adds a special flavour to this book that turns it into a relatable and fascinating story.
As expected in a book set in a beach town, there is a romantic plot line. In The Summer After You and Me, Lucy has a twin brother, Liam. Lucy's brother and boyfriend hate each other. Lucy is caught in the middle of the two people she loves. This rift between the two siblings creates tension and drama that will satisfy those who enjoy a good romance novel.
The main character, Lucy, is a very determined and self-reliant. Throughout the novel, Lucy is pursuing her dream of becoming a marine mammalogist. She knows how to go for what she wants by volunteering in a similar field and talking to a friend who knows all about marine biology. It is refreshing to read a book that encourages young women to be independent and attain their goals.
Fans of Sarah Dessen will definitely enjoy The Summer After You and Me. It is a fast-paced story that has the right mix of drama, love and determination.
March 17, 2015
Lately, I have not much patience with books and I'm thinking about maybe going back to read the others sometime again. Not this one. This one annoys me and it's not worth my time, the way I see it. No regrets DNF-inf this one. Plus, there's a love triangle. Nope, not happening.
June 27, 2025
it just wasn't it for me
April 28, 2015
The Summer After You and Me takes place in post hurricane Sandy New Jersey. There’s a lot of rebuilding and starting over going on for the residents of Seaside, but Lucy’s story revolves around her heartache over a boy she thought she had.
We meet Lucy at a very rough patch in her life. That’s probably an understatement. She’s having some major boy problems and then something happens that causes some major friend problems as well. I really liked Lucy. She didn’t always make the wisest choices but she was always an honest and refreshing voice. Her friends and brother were infuriating though. In a good way, I guess, because I had to keep reading to find out how the issues were going to get fixed.
The romance between Lucy and Conner was great! Conner was such a good guy under that bad boy mask. I loved how patient and understanding he was with Lucy (and her friends and family). He was without a doubt my favorite part of the story.
The Summer After You and Me gives us a unique perspective into the aftermath of a natural disaster. There’s a scene where Lucy goes back to her island home for the first time after the storm that I could relate to so well. We lived through the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak and waking up the morning after the tornadoes to see all the unimaginable destruction was exactly how Jennifer Salvato Doktorski wrote it. Even though it isn’t an easy topic, I enjoyed reading about something I could relate to so well.
The Summer After You and Me would be the perfect addition to your beach bag this summer. It has everything you could ask for in a summer read!
We meet Lucy at a very rough patch in her life. That’s probably an understatement. She’s having some major boy problems and then something happens that causes some major friend problems as well. I really liked Lucy. She didn’t always make the wisest choices but she was always an honest and refreshing voice. Her friends and brother were infuriating though. In a good way, I guess, because I had to keep reading to find out how the issues were going to get fixed.
The romance between Lucy and Conner was great! Conner was such a good guy under that bad boy mask. I loved how patient and understanding he was with Lucy (and her friends and family). He was without a doubt my favorite part of the story.
The Summer After You and Me gives us a unique perspective into the aftermath of a natural disaster. There’s a scene where Lucy goes back to her island home for the first time after the storm that I could relate to so well. We lived through the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak and waking up the morning after the tornadoes to see all the unimaginable destruction was exactly how Jennifer Salvato Doktorski wrote it. Even though it isn’t an easy topic, I enjoyed reading about something I could relate to so well.
The Summer After You and Me would be the perfect addition to your beach bag this summer. It has everything you could ask for in a summer read!
May 15, 2015
Seaside Park, New Jersey was hit by Superstorm Sandy and the town is now slowly rebuilding. It's the spring following the storm and Lucy's family finally returns to their house after it was practically underwater from the storm. She's looking forward to a normal summer "down the shore," but things get complicated. She has started dating her best friend, Andrew, but in the back of her mind, she is waiting for Connor, her longtime crush, to return to his shore house next door for the summer. In fact, Lucy and Connor shared a moment before Superstorm Sandy hit, but why hasn't she heard from him? Before she knows it, Memorial Day is here and Connor has returned making waves in Lucy's calm waters and catching her eye time and time again. Jennifer Salvato Doktorski's The Summer After You and Me is a quintessential summertime novel. Fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han will enjoy this contemporary romance set at the beach.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
October 31, 2020
I feel like it was a snoozefest I was just saying they're waiting for something intense to happen no it's one of those things where she's dating somebody but she's still in love with somebody from her past. and then the person from her past comes back and kind of ruins everything but I didn't get very far I got to like page 67 and I was already disappointed I was falling asleep I really just don't want to get through this book I'm just going to mark this as read so far it's on one star because it had nothing interesting about it it's one of those non-climatic books and I was expecting like a twist or something really interesting happening and none of that happened so as I said I'm marking this as read and if I want to read it later on I'll find out my bookshelf
but I don't recommend
1🌟
but I don't recommend
1🌟
May 12, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
this book was such a rollercoaster and i loved it. it was really insane and drama filled but somehow it all came together perfectly in the end. not one character didn't have insane development which i loved and even the main character- lucy- really grew in such a short amount of time because of all she went through. i loved the setting and the friend group- the houses and the clams- even the fights and the uncertainty of where this book was ever gonna end. it was a cute read- i literally finished it in two days. it makes me want to sit on a beach on the jersey shore so bad.
this book was such a rollercoaster and i loved it. it was really insane and drama filled but somehow it all came together perfectly in the end. not one character didn't have insane development which i loved and even the main character- lucy- really grew in such a short amount of time because of all she went through. i loved the setting and the friend group- the houses and the clams- even the fights and the uncertainty of where this book was ever gonna end. it was a cute read- i literally finished it in two days. it makes me want to sit on a beach on the jersey shore so bad.
May 23, 2015
Slightly disappointed by the book.
October 31, 2024
It was a good romance book for when you need something cute and light! It just also had so much going on - it didn't really flesh out the romance as much as I would've liked. But for once - I liked a twin book for its twin plot! Which is an achievement (:
August 18, 2025
I personally could not even finish this book and couldn’t even get through the beginning of the book.
I understand that there are probably those who liked this book and I’m not saying they’re wrong. Personally, for me this book was one of the most annoying pieces of writing I have read in a while. Reading to page 20 was bad enough. By the time I pushed myself to get to page 50 I was so thoroughly not enjoying myself that I decided to drop it.
I think for me the most annoying part was the main character. I’m sorry. If you are dating someone who you have known for a long time and like as a friend and KNOW that you are still hung up on a guy and are using your boyfriend to make said guy jealous and the boyfriend doesn’t even know that you are using him like that and you spend a lot of the time you are with your boyfriend trying to convince yourself that still liking the other guy and wanting to be with that guy isn’t emotionally cheating – do you really deserve to have a story I want to read? Personally, no. I don’t want to read a story like that. Immediately I wish both of the guys could do better. She just made me so mad I couldn’t continue the story at all. I don’t know what the spicy rating is because I didn’t read far enough into the story.
Overall, I would rate this story a 1 out of 5 star rating. I did not enjoy it and personally would not recommend it to someone else.
I understand that there are probably those who liked this book and I’m not saying they’re wrong. Personally, for me this book was one of the most annoying pieces of writing I have read in a while. Reading to page 20 was bad enough. By the time I pushed myself to get to page 50 I was so thoroughly not enjoying myself that I decided to drop it.
I think for me the most annoying part was the main character. I’m sorry. If you are dating someone who you have known for a long time and like as a friend and KNOW that you are still hung up on a guy and are using your boyfriend to make said guy jealous and the boyfriend doesn’t even know that you are using him like that and you spend a lot of the time you are with your boyfriend trying to convince yourself that still liking the other guy and wanting to be with that guy isn’t emotionally cheating – do you really deserve to have a story I want to read? Personally, no. I don’t want to read a story like that. Immediately I wish both of the guys could do better. She just made me so mad I couldn’t continue the story at all. I don’t know what the spicy rating is because I didn’t read far enough into the story.
Overall, I would rate this story a 1 out of 5 star rating. I did not enjoy it and personally would not recommend it to someone else.
April 30, 2015
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
The Summer After You and Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski is a young adult contemporary romance about a seaside town on the jersey shore. I really liked that the story takes place after the vicious hurricane Sandy because I thought it added a lot of depth to the story. There were some parts of The Summer After You and Me that I really liked, but overall this book was not a hit for me. And those of you that are familiar with my reading preferences will know what a bummer that was for me because I love contemporary romances so much. First, I am going to talk about the things that I did like about The Summer After You and Me and then I will talk about what didn't work for me.
I loved that Lucy wants to be a marine biologist and how much time she spends studying and helping the marine life at her beaches. I thought that aspect of the book was beautifully done. And I love that 1) she was doing a junior thesis in high school and 2) I loved the topic of her thesis "What's Love Got to Do with It? The Dating and Mating Habits of North American Sea Life." Each chapter started with a mini excerpt from her thesis and they were each about a different marine animal. I loved that, because they were really fun to read and I learned a few facts along the way. Lucy was trying to prove that monogamy wasn't necessary in marine life, and then try and parallel that to humans. I also liked Lucy herself. I thought she was a girl with her head on straight and she was a sweetheart. And I LOVE the cover of the book. It is just so pretty.
It was everyone else that I had a problem with. Lucy's twin brother was a jerk wad for almost the entire book. And her friends were awful. I can't believe some of the things they did. The only one that I remotely liked was Meghan because she at least checked in with Lucy after everything at prom went down. Why everyone took the guys side is beyond me. I would have been pissed if I were Lucy too. That is just unacceptable. And then to have everyone turn their back on Lucy was plain crazy. It actually was crazy. The longer it went on, the more annoyed at everyone I got. I liked Conner, but I had no idea why everyone, and I do mean everyone was so against him. I understood her brother's dislike of him and Andrew's but no one else. Even her parents hated visitors. He was there every summer, the whole summer long. You would think that if he wasn't just a week end-er people would take the time to get to know him and not just hate him on sight. I didn't get it.
The Summer After You and Me had so much potential for me. With the marine biology set up and a likeable main character Lucy, and a good love interest, this book should have been a slam dunk, but the friends and brother killed it for me. I just couldn't get past how awful they were to Lucy. Normally I can see that situations are not black and white and that each side has merit, but I was totally on Lucy's side on this one. What happened at prom was not her fault at all, and I don't blame her for wanting to get out of there. I would be hurt and betrayed too. And then her friends just wouldn't let it go that Lucy left. No thank you. I am over them. It was a shame, but Kiki and Lucy's brother Liam made it so I couldn't fully enjoy The Summer After You and Me. I hope other people don't have that issue and that they are able to enjoy this summery romance. I will absolutely try another book by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski because the writing and scene setting was great, I just couldn't click with some of these characters. But I can tell from the bones of the book that she is a talented author.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
The Summer After You and Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski is a young adult contemporary romance about a seaside town on the jersey shore. I really liked that the story takes place after the vicious hurricane Sandy because I thought it added a lot of depth to the story. There were some parts of The Summer After You and Me that I really liked, but overall this book was not a hit for me. And those of you that are familiar with my reading preferences will know what a bummer that was for me because I love contemporary romances so much. First, I am going to talk about the things that I did like about The Summer After You and Me and then I will talk about what didn't work for me.
I loved that Lucy wants to be a marine biologist and how much time she spends studying and helping the marine life at her beaches. I thought that aspect of the book was beautifully done. And I love that 1) she was doing a junior thesis in high school and 2) I loved the topic of her thesis "What's Love Got to Do with It? The Dating and Mating Habits of North American Sea Life." Each chapter started with a mini excerpt from her thesis and they were each about a different marine animal. I loved that, because they were really fun to read and I learned a few facts along the way. Lucy was trying to prove that monogamy wasn't necessary in marine life, and then try and parallel that to humans. I also liked Lucy herself. I thought she was a girl with her head on straight and she was a sweetheart. And I LOVE the cover of the book. It is just so pretty.
It was everyone else that I had a problem with. Lucy's twin brother was a jerk wad for almost the entire book. And her friends were awful. I can't believe some of the things they did. The only one that I remotely liked was Meghan because she at least checked in with Lucy after everything at prom went down. Why everyone took the guys side is beyond me. I would have been pissed if I were Lucy too. That is just unacceptable. And then to have everyone turn their back on Lucy was plain crazy. It actually was crazy. The longer it went on, the more annoyed at everyone I got. I liked Conner, but I had no idea why everyone, and I do mean everyone was so against him. I understood her brother's dislike of him and Andrew's but no one else. Even her parents hated visitors. He was there every summer, the whole summer long. You would think that if he wasn't just a week end-er people would take the time to get to know him and not just hate him on sight. I didn't get it.
The Summer After You and Me had so much potential for me. With the marine biology set up and a likeable main character Lucy, and a good love interest, this book should have been a slam dunk, but the friends and brother killed it for me. I just couldn't get past how awful they were to Lucy. Normally I can see that situations are not black and white and that each side has merit, but I was totally on Lucy's side on this one. What happened at prom was not her fault at all, and I don't blame her for wanting to get out of there. I would be hurt and betrayed too. And then her friends just wouldn't let it go that Lucy left. No thank you. I am over them. It was a shame, but Kiki and Lucy's brother Liam made it so I couldn't fully enjoy The Summer After You and Me. I hope other people don't have that issue and that they are able to enjoy this summery romance. I will absolutely try another book by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski because the writing and scene setting was great, I just couldn't click with some of these characters. But I can tell from the bones of the book that she is a talented author.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
January 9, 2018
I have nothing personal against this book or author, or subject matter even, I just don't have the patience for a book like this.
I don't enjoy the cheesy drama story where the girl pines after a boy who has remained aloof and unattainable, but this other boy likes the girl and she's torn because she wants what she can't have and gets jealous when she sees him interact with his many past girlfriends but this other dude is nice too, oh ma lawd she doesn't know which one to pick. It just seemed like a very simple, unworthwhile story. The plot was disjointed and it was obvious that the action was forced. Small events were blown out of proportion for the drama of it, but they weren't developed or explained clearly so it just felt bumpy. I didn't think the writing was amazing, some sentences were very hard to decipher and the descriptive scenes were non-existent. I could see the attempt at humor and relatability being made, but it just didn't connect for me. It was just too simple, and too easy. Maybe it's because I can no longer relate to these younger characters (I'm getting old, people) so I don't have time for the stereotypical teenage romance drama that so many people enjoy and I'm only bringing this on myself by continuing to read books like this. It isn't that it's a bad book or that people who enjoy this book are lesser, it just isn't for me.
The characters were also a problem. They were boring and typical, their development was nonexistent, they all had flat personalities. Lucy was an attempt to be a relatable, socially-challenged teenaged girl, but it came off forced. Connor was the typical hot, blonde, well-muscled boy next door, but it came off as overdone. Andrew was the incredibly nice longtime bestfriend-turned-boyfriend, but he was redundant. Nobody had any real reason to be attracted to each other, there was no back story or connection between anyone because nobody had any personality. As a result, the romances were forced and I didn't feel any connection between any of them. And plus, the whole thing that happened last summer was so damn anticlimactic and poorly described, it wasn't impactful at all.
I really couldn't follow Lucy's logic when she was juggling Connor and Andrew.
Maybe there's something wrong with me that prevents me from enjoying these simple books about summer flings, but I couldn't help but poke holes in the logic and let my personal views dictate my opinion of the book. The right person would definitely enjoy it, maybe even I would have if I was in a different mood, but this book just was not for me. The characters were too flat, the story was too poorly constructed, and my patience was too thin.
I don't enjoy the cheesy drama story where the girl pines after a boy who has remained aloof and unattainable, but this other boy likes the girl and she's torn because she wants what she can't have and gets jealous when she sees him interact with his many past girlfriends but this other dude is nice too, oh ma lawd she doesn't know which one to pick. It just seemed like a very simple, unworthwhile story. The plot was disjointed and it was obvious that the action was forced. Small events were blown out of proportion for the drama of it, but they weren't developed or explained clearly so it just felt bumpy. I didn't think the writing was amazing, some sentences were very hard to decipher and the descriptive scenes were non-existent. I could see the attempt at humor and relatability being made, but it just didn't connect for me. It was just too simple, and too easy. Maybe it's because I can no longer relate to these younger characters (I'm getting old, people) so I don't have time for the stereotypical teenage romance drama that so many people enjoy and I'm only bringing this on myself by continuing to read books like this. It isn't that it's a bad book or that people who enjoy this book are lesser, it just isn't for me.
The characters were also a problem. They were boring and typical, their development was nonexistent, they all had flat personalities. Lucy was an attempt to be a relatable, socially-challenged teenaged girl, but it came off forced. Connor was the typical hot, blonde, well-muscled boy next door, but it came off as overdone. Andrew was the incredibly nice longtime bestfriend-turned-boyfriend, but he was redundant. Nobody had any real reason to be attracted to each other, there was no back story or connection between anyone because nobody had any personality. As a result, the romances were forced and I didn't feel any connection between any of them. And plus, the whole thing that happened last summer was so damn anticlimactic and poorly described, it wasn't impactful at all.
I really couldn't follow Lucy's logic when she was juggling Connor and Andrew.
Maybe there's something wrong with me that prevents me from enjoying these simple books about summer flings, but I couldn't help but poke holes in the logic and let my personal views dictate my opinion of the book. The right person would definitely enjoy it, maybe even I would have if I was in a different mood, but this book just was not for me. The characters were too flat, the story was too poorly constructed, and my patience was too thin.
August 1, 2016
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire via Netgalley for the free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was my first book by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, and I really enjoyed it. The pace was perfect for a summer beach read, the writing was great, and the characters resonated with me. But, right off the bat, I think there should be a disclaimer in the synopsis stating that there is a bit of a love triangle. You know, like a "heads up" type warning label or something, because I know many readers seem to hate that whole trope. For me, the love triangle worked okay here - it was quite evident, at least to me, who Lucy would end up with, and it seemed necessary that Lucy work through her feelings for both boys in order to figure out what she really wanted for her future. So yeah, it worked, but it would have been nice to know ahead of time what I was getting into.
I quite liked Lucy. The ups and downs she went through with her friends, her brother, her parents, and even Connor, seemed realistic to me. I liked how she was working towards her career goals by getting volunteer experience in her field. Lucy also went through many plausible disappointments during this book, like having to move out of her house while it was being renovated after the storm, and figuring out a back up plan after her summer job plans fell through. I was especially interested in the dynamic between Lucy and her twin brother - I liked how she found out from her parents, and Connor, among others, how what she perceived was completely different from how other people saw the situation. Lucy always felt that she was trying to keep pace with her brother, but in reality, things were quite different.
There was one character that felt a bit extraneous, an older, male university student. I'm not really sure why he was added in the mix, except to offer help to Lucy when she needed it. I never quite bought his motivations, and I kept waiting for him to start hitting on Lucy or take advantage of her in some way. Maybe that's the skeptic in me, but he didn't seem to serve much of a purpose here. My opinion would be to get rid of this guy altogether - he added nothing to the plot that couldn't be developed in some other way.
If I'm going to be completely critical here, I would have liked to learn more about Connor, as well. Most of what we learn about Connor is through flashbacks, and from Lucy's observations of him from afar. There were some sweet moments between the two of them, and I did like Connor, I just wish that he hadn't been held at arm's length so much. I feel like the author only scratched the surface of him, if you know what I mean!
But, other than those minor criticisms, this book was a fun read and a great one to start my summer with!
My rating: 4 stars
This was my first book by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, and I really enjoyed it. The pace was perfect for a summer beach read, the writing was great, and the characters resonated with me. But, right off the bat, I think there should be a disclaimer in the synopsis stating that there is a bit of a love triangle. You know, like a "heads up" type warning label or something, because I know many readers seem to hate that whole trope. For me, the love triangle worked okay here - it was quite evident, at least to me, who Lucy would end up with, and it seemed necessary that Lucy work through her feelings for both boys in order to figure out what she really wanted for her future. So yeah, it worked, but it would have been nice to know ahead of time what I was getting into.
I quite liked Lucy. The ups and downs she went through with her friends, her brother, her parents, and even Connor, seemed realistic to me. I liked how she was working towards her career goals by getting volunteer experience in her field. Lucy also went through many plausible disappointments during this book, like having to move out of her house while it was being renovated after the storm, and figuring out a back up plan after her summer job plans fell through. I was especially interested in the dynamic between Lucy and her twin brother - I liked how she found out from her parents, and Connor, among others, how what she perceived was completely different from how other people saw the situation. Lucy always felt that she was trying to keep pace with her brother, but in reality, things were quite different.
There was one character that felt a bit extraneous, an older, male university student. I'm not really sure why he was added in the mix, except to offer help to Lucy when she needed it. I never quite bought his motivations, and I kept waiting for him to start hitting on Lucy or take advantage of her in some way. Maybe that's the skeptic in me, but he didn't seem to serve much of a purpose here. My opinion would be to get rid of this guy altogether - he added nothing to the plot that couldn't be developed in some other way.
If I'm going to be completely critical here, I would have liked to learn more about Connor, as well. Most of what we learn about Connor is through flashbacks, and from Lucy's observations of him from afar. There were some sweet moments between the two of them, and I did like Connor, I just wish that he hadn't been held at arm's length so much. I feel like the author only scratched the surface of him, if you know what I mean!
But, other than those minor criticisms, this book was a fun read and a great one to start my summer with!
My rating: 4 stars
February 25, 2015
Most people know of the Jersey Shore as a holiday destination, but for Lucy it’s her home. In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, she’s dealing with seeing her home and community torn apart, as well as dealing with the fallout from a hurried relationship with the boy who spends his summers in the house next to hers.
This was a really sweet YA romance which reminded me a lot of Sarah Dessen and Joan Bauer books. I love YA books when the characters are invested in something else than just the romance, when they have interests and passions which they follow and enjoy. Lucy is incredibly interested in marine wildlife and volunteers with wildlife rehabilitation. You can really tell through the book that this is something which is important to her – that’s she’s a multi-dimensional character.
The relationships between Lucy, her twin brother and her parents is a fantastic part of the book as well. They are all showing the impacts of the storm and the stresses they’ve been through in having their home damaged and in rebuilding. I felt those stresses, and the way the family dealt (or didn’t deal) with them felt very realistic.
I live in a part of world which sees its fair share of natural disasters, so it was fabulous to see a book which dealt with the aftermath of a massive event. I’d love to see more books like that in the Australian market, since our country deals with so many events each year.
The romance part of the book was sweet, but probably a little more formulaic in comparison with the rest of the book. There were the usual misunderstandings and longing looks which you find in most YA romances – they’re fun when you’re reading them, but they don’t stay with you the way the other elements of this book did.
All in all, a good fun read which I’m sure will be enjoyed by many.
Originally reviewed at Subversive Reader
This was a really sweet YA romance which reminded me a lot of Sarah Dessen and Joan Bauer books. I love YA books when the characters are invested in something else than just the romance, when they have interests and passions which they follow and enjoy. Lucy is incredibly interested in marine wildlife and volunteers with wildlife rehabilitation. You can really tell through the book that this is something which is important to her – that’s she’s a multi-dimensional character.
The relationships between Lucy, her twin brother and her parents is a fantastic part of the book as well. They are all showing the impacts of the storm and the stresses they’ve been through in having their home damaged and in rebuilding. I felt those stresses, and the way the family dealt (or didn’t deal) with them felt very realistic.
I live in a part of world which sees its fair share of natural disasters, so it was fabulous to see a book which dealt with the aftermath of a massive event. I’d love to see more books like that in the Australian market, since our country deals with so many events each year.
The romance part of the book was sweet, but probably a little more formulaic in comparison with the rest of the book. There were the usual misunderstandings and longing looks which you find in most YA romances – they’re fun when you’re reading them, but they don’t stay with you the way the other elements of this book did.
All in all, a good fun read which I’m sure will be enjoyed by many.
Originally reviewed at Subversive Reader
February 8, 2015
A perfect read for fans of Jenny Han's THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY series! I love beachy summer romance books and this one has just the right amount of heft and depth to it. Lucy is a wonderful protagonist whose emotions and conflicts feel very real and relatable. The author also does an amazing job of evoking the setting--a post-Sandy Jersey shore that is much more than its party town reputation.
October 20, 2015
Seems a little like a mixture of two Morgan Matson books: Since You've Been Gone and Second Chance Summer. But I seemed to like those two books better than this one.
I felt like this book was missing something essential to make it come alive, and since that crucial part was missing, I enjoyed it less than most books I read. Beginning was slow; the end was better.
I recommend this book to people who like super light fast reads.
I felt like this book was missing something essential to make it come alive, and since that crucial part was missing, I enjoyed it less than most books I read. Beginning was slow; the end was better.
I recommend this book to people who like super light fast reads.
April 28, 2015
Although I thought this book had a bit of a slow start, it ended up being the perfect beach read. A story that every girl, no matter her age, can relate to. Especially those in New Jersey. Great read!
July 5, 2017
This free book distracted me from my current reading. It was a kinda fluffy, kinda predictable, but fun and quick read.
June 21, 2025
This book was so so so much fun. I was worried at the beginning that it had a cheating trope however it pleasantly surprised me and I was really really obsessed with the visions this book brought me of the beach!! Our book takes place on the New Jersey shore as a girl Lucy and her family are trying to recover from a terrible hurricane that has wrecked their whole island. I liked how the book didn’t follow the normal layout of a romcom and it felt really really natural and I liked how our main character made mistakes because she’s only 16 so yes she is GOING to make mistakes. This helped me out of a little bit of a slump that I was in after finishing twilight and not reading any light books.
Overall perfect for summer!! ☀️👙🍉
Overall perfect for summer!! ☀️👙🍉
June 28, 2025
3.5 stars!
a fun and easy summer read!
I liked the drama and the writing style!
problems-
liam- he was a really bad brother and even him apologizing didn't fix my opinion on him
andrew- he really messed up and he was honestly so annoying after he did what he did. it ruined his character and his arc wasn't good enough for me to forgive him
keeks and mehgan- they were HORRIBLE friends tho I will say mehgan- was a way better friend. keeks was a jerk and did not deserve to be forgiven
lucy- our main girl, she was nice but a little all over the place and annoying
connor- I really liked him but I hated how the author wrote the character of him
I also really didn't like the way the past summer storyline was done and how her and Connor were so back n forth. I kinda lost Connor and Lucy towards the end
I did like the ending tho as it was satisfying. And I liked the vibes.
a fun and easy summer read!
I liked the drama and the writing style!
problems-
liam- he was a really bad brother and even him apologizing didn't fix my opinion on him
andrew- he really messed up and he was honestly so annoying after he did what he did. it ruined his character and his arc wasn't good enough for me to forgive him
keeks and mehgan- they were HORRIBLE friends tho I will say mehgan- was a way better friend. keeks was a jerk and did not deserve to be forgiven
lucy- our main girl, she was nice but a little all over the place and annoying
connor- I really liked him but I hated how the author wrote the character of him
I also really didn't like the way the past summer storyline was done and how her and Connor were so back n forth. I kinda lost Connor and Lucy towards the end
I did like the ending tho as it was satisfying. And I liked the vibes.
Read
July 19, 2024The summer I turned pretty but ali express version.
January 4, 2025
I finished this so quickly! my only complaint is that lucy annoys me almost the entire book and being in her head wasn’t my favorite pov
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