There was plenty to like in this novel and plenty I could have done without. I really liked the themes of becoming comfortable with who you are, staying true to yourself, loving yourself and your body, and that looks can be deceiving. All these were handled very well and probably couldn’t have been done half so well without the elements of the story that I didn’t like, but I still wish that the showcasing peer pressure and the desire to be normal or part of the group had been done differently.
Because—I really didn’t like how all the kids, including the heroine, were found drinking, smoking, doing drugs, or all three throughout the novel. Of course, it was all done to illustrate how unhappy the kids really were with themselves and life around them, but it makes for very mature themes more suitable for high school readers already possessing a degree of maturity.
(I just want to say before moving on – Girls take a lesson from the cousins in this novel and don’t do drugs because you’re leaving yourself wide open to be taken advantage of and you don’t ever want to be in that type of situation! It’s not cool and it’s not fun. Stay safe and be strong enough to say no.)
The story doesn’t end happy either, be prepared because you will be upset. I was. I kept waiting for the magical wand to be waved and when it wasn’t had to really think about what I thought of the novel. It’s not a traditional young adult romance (or romance in general really) by any measure.
Mia Farrow can’t wait to spend the summer with her cousin, Corinne. Her idyllic beach filled summer is dashed to pieces in moments of reconnecting with her cousins who are full of themselves. Their studied ennui make Mia very uncomfortable. She wants to be accepted as one of them but their snide and often sly remarks get to her. It’s not until she meets Simon Ross, her cousins’ next door neighbor that things begin to look up for Mia. Simon has already learned that being one of the teen Hamptons elite is not all that’s it cracked up to be and he’s determined to help Mia be herself and maybe the two of them will even share a little summer romance.
Rating: 2.5-3 Stars
Buy: The Summer of Skinny Dipping
 |
The Summer of Skinny Dipping NEW by Amanda Howells |
US $11.08 | Sale |
Online Stores - Kids Rash Guards Surf Store
- Kids Board Bags & Socks Surfing Surf Store
- Pretty Young Orchids Plants, Seeds & Bulbs Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
- Jerseys Dallas Stars Hockey-NHL Fan Apparel & Souvenirs Sports Collectibles
- Skinny Puppy S Rock, Pop Music Memorabilia Entertainment Memorabilia
This post was written by...
Keira – who has written 1035 posts on Love Romance Passion.
Keira's favorite type of heroes are blind, scarred, and tortured... yes, she understands those should be separate, but all 3 at once is also nice! She enjoys historical romances best and adores audio books because great narrators turn books into auditory/mental movies (and she loves her romantic dramas like Pride and Prejudice/North and South!) Learn more about Keira in My Instant Turn Ons, Offs, and Ifs.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Mia Farrow, seriously?
Yes, she’s named after the actress and her sister’s named after another.