Thursday

Review : The Summer I Found You by Jolene Perry (YA)


Book Blurb

All they have in common is that they're less than perfect. And all they're looking for is the perfect distraction.

Kate's dream boyfriend has just broken up with her and she's still reeling from her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Aidan planned on being a lifer in the army and went to Afghanistan straight out of high school. Now he's a disabled young veteran struggling to embrace his new life. When Kate and Aidan find each other neither one wants to get attached. But could they be right for each other after all?


Toot's Review by Stacy Sabala

Kate Walker is a senior and planning to go to college next year at USC. However she wasn’t planning on being dumped by her boyfriend of over a year, Sheldon. That really throws her into a tailspin on top of her diabetes that she is trying to control. Well maybe not control as well as she could, she is ignoring it. She doesn’t want to deal with it.

When her best friend decides to include her cousin when they go to the school carnival, Kate is not thrilled. She doesn’t even want to go. Sheldon is with someone new and she doesn’t want to see them together.

Aidan Connelly is home from Afghanistan and discharged from the Army. He is dealing with a major injury he sustained and trying to come to grips with his situation. However he never imagined he would be going to a high school carnival with his cousin. She talked him into going with her friend. He is surprised when he meets Kate and the things she says. She doesn’t dance around the subject of his missing arm and he is relieved about that. It always is awkward when dealing with other people.

At first Kate and Aidan use each other as a distraction from the issues they are dealing with, but start to realize how they understand each other. However Kate waits too long to tell Aidan about her diabetes and the consequences are dire. They both have to pick up the pieces that life has given them and decide what to do next.

I liked the storyline and Aidan’s character. The wounded soldier and his troubling time of readjustment were really heartbreaking. The author did a good job of showing all the overwhelming things he had to deal with. I also thought that Kate’s role in his life was positive and healing which helped lighten the mood.

Unfortunately Kate was not a good character for me. I liked how she acted around Aidan, but dealing with her own issues was immature. I like a strong female lead character and she needed to stop sulking about her situation and take control. I lost patience with her. It was a good story and I give it a 3 out of 5.

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