Thursday, May 17, 2012

Review: The Summer My Life Began

THE SUMMER MY LIFE BEGAN
Shannon Greenland
Contemporary Young Adult
250 pages
Speak
Available Now
Received through Teen Book Scene for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Elizabeth Margaret—better known as Em—has always known what life would contain: an internship at her father’s firm, a degree from Harvard and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is that it’s not what she wants. When she gets the opportunity to get away from it all and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em pursues her secret dream of being a chef, and she also learns that her family has kept some significant secrets from her, too. And then there’s Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn't. Naturally, she can’t resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels she is living on her own terms for the first time.

MY THOUGHTS
Lighthearted and cute, The Summer My Life Began is a quick read relatively free of drama, one of those stories easily read in a couple hours that leaves us satisfied without necessarily being overly enthused. Em and company are all nicely executed though not exactly multifaceted, and the plot moves forward with little tension, leaving us feeling safe in the knowledge that things will work themselves out without a great deal of fuss. We are able to enjoy our time with Em as she embarks on trip that scratches out so many items on her much-adhered-to life-detailing lists, replacing them with new new desires and goals far more suited to the girl she wants to be rather than the girl her family thinks she should be.

Em is a sweet young woman, intent on making her parents proud by following their paint-by-numbers life plan one step at a time, seemingly unwilling to voice a protest for fear of the disappointed looks she’ll face when their snobbery proves to be more important than her dreams of being of a chef. We spend a lot of time wishing she would take a stand and refuse to be cowed by the force of their entitlement, but we know she has to work up to that place, and the plot’s predictability keeps our patience firmly in place as it’s clear that revelation will be forthcoming.

Em’s summer romance with Cade is endearing, causing just a few butterflies to flit back and forth in our stomachs, but like the situation with her family, we ultimately know how everything will work out with them. There’s a brief attempt at a love triangle, but it lacks tension and is easily resolved, leaving us wishing the romantic aspect focused solely on Cade throughout without the unnecessary deviation of a possible relationship with Jeremy. Overall however, The Summer My Life Began is a perfectly enjoyable story, well-suited for a vacation when we just want to sit outside, read, relax and sink into someone else's life without being overwhelmed or stressed by the events taking place in that life.

Rating: 3/5

33 comments:

  1. It sounds like you felt the way so many others have. Sometimes its nice to read a mindless read. And this sounds like a perfect one for summer.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sure, why not. A nice summerread or one for a long cartrip.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I thought this one would be a really fun summer read, but I just found it so dull! The characters and the plot were so one dimensional. I also found the dialogue in this book was really awkward to read. So I guess it didn't work for me, then!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ohhh, I'm on the fence with this book right now! Most of the people I follow seem to feel the same way about this book -- a sweet and simple read and nothing more -- but one of my friends REALLY loved it, so I'm kind of torn haha. But sometimes I'm looking for that de-stresser book to read without having my heart pulled by strings, so I think that might be perfect for that then! ;)

    Thanks so much for the beautiful honest review, Jenny! :) <3

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hehe clearly, this sounds like the perfect light summer read.Something to read when you want light and fun and nothing heavy to distract you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I completely agree with you regarding this book- it's perfect if you are on vacation and want a light summer read....nothing too deep. I thought it was really cute and so far, my students have enjoyed it. There's a group of girls passing it around. Thanks for the great review!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Awww-this sounds super sweet and a fun one for the summer. Ill add it to my beach day reads when Im chilling on Lake Michigan....:D Sounds like one I could pass on to my teen too, so always good!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Candace - I agree. And I did like this one, it just didn't stand out at all for me.

    Linda - Exactly:)

    Leanna - Hahaha apparently not! I had fun reading it even if I new exactly what was going to happen.

    Mimi - It would definitely work as a de-stresser book! Perfect to read before you pick up the next really intense one:)

    Danny - Yep, that's exactly it:)

    Christina - I kind of enjoyed the predictability of it, it was nice to just read something I didn't have to put too much thought into analyzing:)

    Tina - YAY LAKE MICHIGAN!!! I can't wait to go:)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I completely forgot about Jeremy! I guess he wasn't as impressionable, huh? I got the feeling that the author wanted to broach the "tough issues" but then decided otherwise, which is a shame really. This really had the potential to be a strong, contemporary, romance read.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Light and cute is great for summer, though the cliched triangle sounds like it took away from some of the enjoyment of a developing summer romance.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It sounds cute. Although, the triangle sounds like it was a forced plot point to cover ground. Still, maybe when I hit the beach for our relocation. ;) Although, I think we're going to be VERY busy with all the men. Then again, Team Jenny will need bookie time.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was just so-so on this one as well. I was expecting a bit more drama to surface, but like you said, it never really happened. The romance with Cade was cute, though! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm glad you enjoyed this more than I did Jenny, I loved the setting, made me excited about the summer! Great review! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is probably the most postiive review I have read on this one, Jenny. Most people get irritated with the family situation and feel like the plot wanders around too much. I am glad you see it probably as what it is meant to be, a summer read.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I miss the days when I had time to read easy, drama free stories. But my list of MUST READS is too daunting to veer off track. LOL

    Seems like the love triangle was the attempt to cause tension between the main couple, but I guess it didn't really work out.

    Reading about all these love triangles makes me wish I could go back in time to my high school days and force myself to be more observant. Where there really that many love triangles floating around amongst my friends that I wasn't aware of? I can't recall a single one. I do remember there were a couple of guys that really liked my cousin Gina at the same time, but she was dating someone else. And we were all friends. And it didn't cause drama, well none that I knew about anyway. Are you watching that HBO show, Girls? It's hilarious. Anyway, one of the girls has a boyfriend that 'loves her too much'. And I remembered Gina saying that about one of those guys that liked her. She would say stuff like, 'he's so boring, all he wants to talk about is how much he loves me.' LOL!

    Sorry for the ramble. Watch GIRLS!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Rummanah - hahaha it's not surprising really, he didn't really add much to the plot:) I could have done without him entirely because I really enjoyed Cade:)

    Mary - The tension in the love triangle never felt real, so it didn't bother me. I would have loved to skip it all together but I knew it wouldn't last and that worked for me:)

    Jen - We are going to be busy. Our beach is going to be PACKED. We'll need to pack lots of Gatorhyde to keep ourselves hydrated:)

    Lauren - I was expecting a bit more family drama too - but things got resolve rather quickly and easily.

    Jasprit - It made me want to go to a B&B for the summer, that's for sure:)

    Heidi - I'd read a lot of reviews before I picked this one up, so I knew it wasn't going to be an emotionally intense read, and I was able to just appreciate it for what it was:)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Missie - I must have been equally clueless in high school because I can't recall a single love triangle either. Where were all the boys clawing for my affections dammit?! MORE PEOPLE SHOULD LOVE ME! And I will now be watching Girls:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's not really the type of show that works for everyone. I forced my sister to watch two episodes and she thought it was boring, but I still think it is so FUNNY. Hanna makes these inappropriate jokes, only she doesn't realize how 'taboo' they are. It cracks me up. If you watch, let me know. And tell me honestly, what you think. :)

      Delete
    2. And believe me when I say that tons of people already love you. Your hubs is a lucky dude.

      Delete
  18. Looks like you liked this one a little more than me, Jenny. I thought it was a breezy summer read too but the lack of even a slight bit of tension just annoyed me.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Yeah, sounds like the perfect summer book. Not sure it's quite interesting enough for me though. I don't like books that are too predictable and fluffy, even if they are relaxing to read. :)

    -lauren

    ReplyDelete
  20. This sounds like a good read. Although, the triangle draws me back 'cause i hate love triangles.

    Great review! =D

    ReplyDelete
  21. I lvoed this book! These types of books with secrets and major changes always get me in the heart. Nice review.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Well at least the triangle wasn't forced further than it seems to have been. I know what you mean... I don't care for books that do that. Just concentrate on one guy. I don't think those things are necessary to create tension. Even so... it sounds like a cute YA summer read.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Ugh, I hate it when unnecessary love triangles are thrown into the story. I just want to concentrate on the actual love story, especially when reading a standalone novel. But I might give The Summer My Life Began a chance as a light and easy summer read. Thanks for your review!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sounds like it has everything I look for in a summer read but I have read other reviewers say that it was predictable too.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh I agree, it definitely should have been all Cade in the romance department. This one was really cute and light and breezy, which can be a good thing if that's what you're looking for, but it was definitely predictable and wrapped up in a bow at the end.

    ReplyDelete
  26. The title and cover definitely show that this is a summer read! It's definitely not one that worked for me but it did help me get in the mood for summer.

    ReplyDelete
  27. This sounds like a good summer read .. I don't know if I'll buy it though, I might wait and borrow it from a friend or from the library :) !! Thanks for the great review Jenny !!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I like the idea of her pursuing her cooking interests, and I like the age of the heroine.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hmm, sounds like a decent library check-out for the summer! Although, the attempted love triangle sounds a bit annoying....regardless, nice review :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm always annoyed when there's hints of love triangles and they don't even develop. Although, love triangles themselves have a tendency to annoy me anyway. Lol.

    It sounds like a sweet read though and definitely perfect now that summer is arriving! While I'm not as intrigued as I'd like to be, I'm still curious about it. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thankyou for the review! I like a light story as I don't have to think much while reading it and just enjoy it much. I was attracted by the title, and I might give it a try. Thankyou!

    ReplyDelete