Phantom Summer

by Amy Sparling

[bryannaleigh]

Phantom Summer is about Taylor Gray trying to move on from her best friend and first love's, Brendan, death. To get away from the memories and the chaos that surrounds it, she moves to Sterling Island to live on her mother's couch for the summer. Here, Taylor finds herself finding new friends and a new love. Though, the death of Brendan still haunts her memory, much like the ghosts that haunt around Sterling Island.

This was a cute story, not the best, but cute enough. It was a nice, easy read. Even with the occasional ridiculous names (Raine Tsumani, really? Really?) It would definitely be a fun read for the fall/Halloween season if you're not looking for something too frightening but still want the element of ghosts/supernatural. There were a few parts that did keep me on edge in the horror aspect, but that might have been my easily triggered paranoia and the fact I was reading in a dark house in the middle of the night. Characters were decently thought out and the plot was actually pretty good. Definitely better than I thought it was going to be. (Keep in mind that I had purchased this book about a year ago and had just quickly skimmed over the synopsis. And I may have misread it as well and thought it was going to be something completely different.) This might be one book I wouldn't mind there being a sequel too, but I'll hold my tongue on that one since it seems everything has one nowadays.

Taylor's main perk that draws all the locals to her is that she isn't afraid of anything. Not the ghosts, not the "frightening" over night shift at the railroad museum she works at, nothing.... In fact, she doesn't really believe in ghosts at all, and Mr. Raine Tsumani is determined to prove her wrong. Though, when she finally starts to believe, the guilt of her best friend's death overwhelms her.

This story is a good one about the loss of a one you love, and the trial and errors of recovery. In ways, it did make you think about the life after death and the closure a person can have--both the living and the deceased. It didn't take itself too seriously, but just serious enough to get the whole point across.