August and Everything After

by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

One last summer to escape, to find herself, to figure out what comes next. Fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han will love this contemporary, coming-of-age romance.
Graduation was supposed to be a relief. Except Quinn can’t avoid the rumors that plagued her throughout high school or the barrage of well-intentioned questions about her college plans. How is she supposed to know what she wants to do for the next four years, let alone the rest of her life? And why does no one understand that it’s hard for her to think about the future—or feel as if she even deserves one—when her best friend is dead?
Spending the summer with her aunt on the Jersey shore may just be the fresh start Quinn so desperately needs. And when she meets Malcolm, a musician with his own haunted past, she starts to believe in second chances. Can Quinn find love while finding herself?

• ISBN10: 1492657158
• ISBN13: 9781492657156
• Publish Date: 1 May 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 29 June 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Sourcebooks Fire
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

I was expecting a breezy, summer romance, but this was not that kind of book. There are light and fun parts, but mostly, it was the story of a girl, who was so broken under the weight of years of guilt and the loss of her best friend, that she was losing sight of herself and any long term goals.

I really liked
• The setting - this book was set in my home state, NJ, and it is always a treat to recognize so many places when I read a book.
• The 90s references - I am a lover of 80s and 90s music, and throughly enjoyed all the musical references in this book.
• The Growth - Quinn grew a great deal over the course of this story, and was able to make peace with her past. I especially liked the progress she made with her mother, and that Quinn was able to discover some untapped talent and find some direction.
• I appreciate the book shedding some light opioid addiction, because this is a huge problem we are currently facing.
• I sort of adored Quinn's aunt. She was a fabulous person and Quinn was lucky to have her.

I am not really sure how I felt about the romance or Malcolm. I think that is the problem, when addicts are featured as primary characters in a story. His behaviors were not unusual for an addict, but he did things, which angered me. So, call me conflicted about him, though, he did redeem himself slightly in my eyes.

Overall: The book was entertaining, and quite emotional at times. I liked watching Quinn try to find her way out from beneath her pain and grief, and start anew.

[readingwithwrin]

Sadly this book just wasn't for me.

It focused a little too much on the summer romance, and not enough on the main character really finding herself. Nothing really happened for her until the last quarter of the book. Until that point, she was just too worried about the guy and 'helping' him. When she should have been working on herself.
I will say that I did really enjoy learning about music and how certain things happen in the music business.