This Summer by Katlyn Duncan #BookReview #Giveaway

This Summer
Author: Katlyn Duncan
Release date: July 9, 2014
Publisher: Carina UK
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
ISBN: 9781472096449

Before college, before responsibilities, Hadley Beauman and best friend Lily are determined to have a summer to remember. There will be all the usual dramas - ex-boyfriends who don't seem to know what 'ex' means, pesky younger brothers with unrequited crushes, but what Hadley didn't anticipate was the out-of-the-blue return of the seriously hot boy-next-door, Will Carson. The boy who broke her heart when he skipped town two years ago.

Will may have shot up a foot and filled out (oh yes), but inside he carries the weight of guilt - for leaving, for coming back... Now he's just passing through to tie up loose ends but it's clear the old chemistry still crackles between him and Hadley. Trouble is, it's built on two years of lies...

This summer might just be the best time of their lives, but is Hadley ready for everything to change - again?

I was excited to read This Summer because I love Katlyn Duncan’s The Life After series. What I had liked most about it, the characters, seems to still stand for This Summer as well. This was a great summer read, the setting is summer camp counselors before college. The characters being one of my favorite things about the book.

Hadley is pretty easy going. It was interesting to me how people felt this weird need to take care of her even though she wasn’t pretty strong on her own. I understand that she had been damaged when Will left but she did date Carter and breaking up with him was her choice. I just felt like people were pushing her in directions she needed to go. She is excited to go to college and start a new life, yes Will coming back shakes her up but she’s tougher than people were giving her credit for.

Will is a sweetheart and the dreamy boy next door. That’s all I really need to say about him.

Hadley and Will have that easy natural relationship that comes from knowing someone forever. I loved their interactions with one another. Although it gave me those, just get together, anxiety jitters. I just wanted them so badly to say hey let’s have a summer fling, my reasoning being it would evolve into a swoonfest I’m never going to leave you.. So the anticipation was killing me in the book. I really ended up loving their story.

I’m not sure how I feel about Hadley’s best friend Lily or their friendship. Lily does something really crappy and I’m not sure Hadley should have been forgiving so quickly. Despite some good points Lily brings up. I do know I had friends like Lily in high school so I think that’s what I think about when I read their characters.

The book is written in dual POV and I liked having some insight on Will. It’s written in a way that it doesn’t take anything away from the swooning. The anticipation builds even knowing first hand Will’s feelings on the matter. Even when we find out his back story. I enjoyed the plot and the fact that Will is a lost love coming back, it’s actually one of my favorite plot devices. The book did feel a little slow in the beginning but it also gave time for things to develop more naturally. Once you hit the last 35% of the book it really takes off and carries you to the end.

The Summer camp setting fits perfectly for this time of year and I really liked that’s it before college. If you are looking for a swoony summer read with a couple that’s great together and separate. I say definitely pick it up.

Katlyn Duncan was born and raised in a small town in western Massachusetts. Her overactive imagination involved invisible friends, wanting to be a Disney Princess and making up her own stories. Her bibliophile mom always encouraged her love of reading and that stayed with her since. Even though she works full time in the medical field Katlyn has always made time for books, whether she is reading or writing them.

Katlyn now lives in southern Connecticut with her husband and adorable Wheaten Terrier and she is thrilled to finally share her stories with the world.