Hurricane Summer
Author: Asha Bromfield
Published: May 4 2021
Buy: Wednesday Books
In this sweeping debut, Asha Bromfield takes readers to the heart of Jamaica, and into the soul of a girl coming to terms with her family, and herself, set against the backdrop of a hurricane.
Tilla has spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, he leaves their family and returns to his true home: the island of Jamaica.
When Tilla’s mother tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but longs to discover what life in Jamaica has always held for him.
In an unexpected turn of events, Tilla is forced to face the storm that unravels in her own life as she learns about the dark secrets that lie beyond the veil of paradise―all in the midst of an impending hurricane.
Hurricane Summer is a powerful coming of age story that deals with colorism, classism, young love, the father-daughter dynamic―and what it means to discover your own voice in the center of complete destruction.
Excerpt
Review
I really liked Tilla and also felt for her. I think it’s easy to judge her relationship with her dad and wonder why she doesn’t stand up for herself more with him. But she’s also just a girl who wants a relationship with her dad because she’s missing that part of her life. I could understand why she didn’t want to spend her time fighting with him but it was hard to read the way he treated her. How the whole family treated her. I thought Tilla was pretty amazing the way she pushed through things.She really struggles to find her voice but when she does, she becomes unstoppable. It gives you chills to see her progress and take back her power over her life, her body and everything in between.
The plot itself is a lot about family dynamics but also the treatment of women and how you sexually can be used against you. How to find your strength through all of that. There is lots of this story that is difficult to read but I also liked how it also showed us why the people in it are the way they are. We got some backstory into people’s lives and even though it doesn’t make the way they act right. I liked that it showed understanding. I had an Ex who had a stepmom who acted like Aunt Herma acts and his dad always believed her over him. Even when I would be witness to her lying. So that just gave me the chills. I wanted to crawl into the book and yell at her. There was another part of the plot that bothered me a little because I was concerned it wasn’t dealt with totally. It’s not something I have experienced so I’m also not one to be the judge of that but I worried for the character.
I would consider Hurricane Summer a hard read but also a good read. It’s not meant to be a happy ending but more of a beginning for the character.
Author
Asha Bromfield is an actress, singer, and writer of Afro-Jamaican descent. She is known for her role as Melody Jones, drummer of Josie and the Pussycats in CW’s Riverdale. She also stars as Zadie Wells in Netflix’s hit show, Locke and Key. Asha is a proud ambassador for the Dove Self-Esteem Project, and she currently lives in Toronto where she is pursuing a degree in Communications. In her spare time, she loves studying astrology, wearing crystals, burning sage, and baking vegan desserts. Hurricane Summer is her debut novel.
Twitter: @ashabrom Instagram: @ashabrom