Summer Skin

by Kirsty Eagar

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 3.5 Stars

While out for revenge, Jess may have met her match, and her unwanted attraction to him was a cause for alarm. She struggled throughout the book with many questions, among them: Can you fall for someone, who represents everything you detest? Can people really change?

• Pro: Jess was such a work in progress. Slightly damaged from a previous relationship, she was trying to avoid repeating that mistake. I really appreciated the inner battle she fought with respect to being true to her friends, her values, her needs, her wants, and herself.

• Pro: Poor Mitch was dealing with a LOT of guilt and grief, but he was trying to become a better version of himself. His process was painfully slow and often frustrating to watch, but I sort of like that Eagar kept it honest in that way.

• Con: The story was told in 3rd person from Jess' point of view, and though I loved her tons, I was really curious about what was rattling about in Mitch's head.

• Pro: This book was very feminist and sex positive. There was a lot of exploration of sexual politics as well as gender inequality in this story, which was attacked from many different angles.

• Pro: The banter in this book was so clever and witty. I loved every second of it.

• Pro: Summer Skin was set in an Australian University, which was new for me, and I found it very interesting.

• Pro: The last 25% of the book was where my patience paid off, and I was totally in love with what Eagar did with the ending. It was nice, but also answered a significant question that loomed over Jess during the course of this story.

• Pro: Jess had a fabulous set of feisty female friends, who served as a support system for. Her three floor mates were as different as night and day, but they all were empowered in some way, and I loved how they exerted this throughout the story. In addition to her friends, Jess also had a most wonderful aunt, who was doting, but also pushed Jess in a positive manner.

Overall: An untraditional love story, which is forthright, amusing, sometimes morally gray, but thought provoking and quite satisfying.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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