Summer of Sloane

"we all made mistakes. Big mistakes."

Although I thought this book was interesting - it was a big pile of drama. And I like that Sloane was a strong character - she really struggled with what was happening but she wasn't a push over. I thought it was good she stood her ground and that she was right - it wasn't all about them and the fact that they needed her suddenly, now that it'd all gone to crap.

However, I disagree with one very big point - I don't think you have to forgive everyone. I think you can let go of the anger and resentment and still not talk to whoever has hurt you. I believe there *IS* a definite breaking point - and I believe Sloane's best friend and ex-boyfriend crossed it. You can hurt someone too much - so much that show more they don't have to try to have a friendship with you (no matter how many years you've been together). And these are high school friendships and relationships. How many of those last beyond the high school years?

Very few. So while I thought the building relationship was good, I hated that just about EVERYONE in Sloane's life was a cheater and that everyone thought she shouldn't judge them for doing it. show less

What I Loved

If I could rate this book based off of the first half then it would have gotten a four and maybe a 5. It was the first half of this story that sucked me in and kept me there. I loved the idea of our main character going to Hawaii to try and clear her head and figure things out. I wish that was something I could do but sadly it's a little too pricy for me.

In the beginning I liked our main character Sloane. She's going through a really confusing time and I thought she was doing really good handling it like she did. I also LOVED her brother and thought he was a really sweet guy. I wish we could have gotten to see more of him honestly. Both of them had these little romances going on which I loved and I thought it was going to be show more such a great book! Sadly I ended up a little disappointed.

What I Didn't Like

This was by no means a bad book. It's just that the second half let me down a little bit after such a strong start. Without giving anything away, something happened near the end of this book that made our main character have to go back home. Apparently it was the end of the world though because it felt like everything was throwing a fit over it! All because nobody could bother to call or talk to her AT ALL to ask what was going on. So everyone just assumed the worse and all Sloane's relationships with friends and love interest kind of just died for a bit.

It drove me crazy that nobody ever talked to anyone in this book. Any issues that happened could have easily been prevented but apparently nobody in this series has ever heard of communication. Maybe I'm just getting old and I expect more from books but it felt like none of our characters put any effort into anything.

Who I'd Recommend To

While I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to, I think I'd still recommend it to others. I'm not generally a contemporary lover because it's easier for me to pick it apart. I think people that do enjoy reading contemporary will like reading this one because it's mostly about the friendships than it is about the romance. show less

Thought this book was really good. Sloane is heartbroken because her boyfriend and best friend have cheated on her, so she runs off to her mother's place in Hawaii and spends the summer trying to forget. The book has the appearance of a light read, and in many ways that's what it is--we spend lots of time on the beach and see an eclectic cast of Hawaiian characters (Erin, the author, is Hawaiian). But there's also quite a lot more to it. In the end, the book veers in a direction I wouldn't have expected (although the roots were there throughout) and says some surprisingly powerful things about the value of letting go of resentment. When I closed the book, I really did find myself moved.

I received an advance reader copy of the book. It show more wasn't in exchange for anything, really (I wasn't expected or required to leave a review), but I decided to post one anyway. show less

Seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre and her twin brother Penn’s parents are divorced and the two live with their father in Seattle. Every summer they spend with their mother and step-father in Honolulu, Hawaii. The day before they are to leave for Hawaii, Sloane’s best friend Mick tells Sloane that she slept with Sloane’s boyfriend, Tyler, and is now pregnant. Sloane is devastated and feels betrayed by two people she always thought she could trust. Finding it hard to cope with this news, Sloane determines that she will make this summer in Hawaii a good one and leave all thoughts of Mick and Tyler behind despite what they have done. It’s easier said than done, since once in Hawaii Sloane is getting constant texts and emails from show more the two trying to explain and say how sorry they are.

This story was a real page-turner. There was fun summertime romance in this one, but also some serious drama along the way. I really liked Sloane and sympathized with her. I liked how she tried to stay strong and decided that she was going to have the fun summer she deserved, and not let the hurt stand in her way. I enjoyed the secondary cast of characters in Hawaii; the friends she had known from previous visits, and the new ones she was making, including a new romantic interest with handsome Finn, the son of a hotel magnate.

I disliked Tyler and Mick, but at least Tyler did seem genuinely sorry and repentant for what he had done. I thought Mick was absolutely horrible, and couldn’t believe the way she blamed Sloane for things, and tried to make Sloane feel guilty. I’m surprised that Sloane’s friendship with Mick lasted as long as it did. I liked Sloane’s new romantic interest Finn, and her twin brother Penn. And as always, Hawaii provided a great setting with its sun and beaches and waterfalls. show less

"We've all been caught up in this ever-expanding spiderweb of bad decisions...and I'm finally choosing me."
As a seventeen year old caught in a nightmare of friendship and relationship gone wrong, it's time for Sloane to finally put herself first and not the needs and wants of everyone else. However in doing so, mistakes are made and through it all she has to continuously remind herself that this is her time and it's about time to remember to live her life.
A wonderful look at coming into oneself through trials that have the power to change you either, positively or negatively, depending on your reactions and decisions to them. Schneider pens a modern coming of age novel that is hearty enough to hold your attention, yet light enough to show more have you hoping for the best outcome for all those you've invested your time and care into.
*I received an arc from NetGalley for an honest review show less

This was a 3.5 novel. I thought it was a really good beach romance with a emotional punch about forgiveness and friendship. I loved the setting and also all the romances we were exposed to. I thought the character of Sloane was a cool character to follow and loved seeing her romance develop with Finn. I think she really did change so much from the start to the end of the novel.

If you are looking for a more emotional beach read! Check this one out!

This was a 3.5 novel. I thought it was a really good beach romance with a emotional punch about forgiveness and friendship. I loved the setting and also all the romances we were exposed to. I thought the character of Sloane was a cool character to follow and loved seeing her romance develop with Finn. I think she really did change so much from the start to the end of the novel.

If you are looking for a more emotional beach read! Check this one out!