Every summer, Rose goes with her mum and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mum and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.
Initial thoughts: Two stars merely for the art, really. Plot and character-wise, This One Summer was sorely lacking. If you're looking for something to flip through to feast your eyes on, then this book fits the bill. However, if you're looking for a story, move along to your next read. Somehow the pace was off, which is weird since the whole summer vibe's slow and laid-back to begin with. Instead of keeping that beat, there was a lot of dissonant jumping from one scene to the next. I didn't feel any empathy towards the characters. Reading this was drab as the climax flatlined before it even took off. The rest of the time it was all about horror movies, boobs, and moodiness all around.
